Definitions

in the first place

ADVERB

chiefly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

especially essentially largely mostly predominantly principally

STRONG

mainly primarily

WEAK

above all in general in the main on the whole overall usually

Antonyms

WEAK

unimportantly

ADVERB

first

Synonyms

STRONGEST

initially originally

WEAK

ahead at the outset before all else beforehand to begin with to start with

Antonyms

WEAK

finally last

ADVERB

first off

Synonyms

WEAK

first of all first thing firstly foremost immediately primo up front

ADVERB

originally

Synonyms

STRONGEST

basically formerly

STRONG

primitively

WEAK

at first at the outset at the start by birth by origin first in the beginning incipiently primarily to begin with

Antonyms

WEAK

secondarily

ADVERB

primarily

Synonyms

WEAK

at first at the start first and foremost from the start initially originally primitively

Antonyms

WEAK

finally secondarily

ADVERB

principally

Synonyms

STRONGEST

basically chiefly first and foremost generally importantly largely mostly notably particularly predominantly

STRONG

primarily

WEAK

above all before anything else cardinally dominantly eminently especially essentially first of all for the most part fundamentally in the main materially peculiarly preeminently prevailingly prevalently substantially superlatively supremely to a great degree universally vitally

Antonyms

WEAK

secondarily trivially

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Can graduates still expect to earn sufficiently more than those without a degree to cover the cost of going in the first place?

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026

“If app stores didn’t allow these dangerous apps to be uploaded in the first place it would have a huge effect,” she added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 14, 2026

True, but then why does he publicly issue these threats in the first place?

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

The pieces were on loan from a Bucharest museum, whose head was promptly sacked for lending the works out in the first place.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

I thought I was the one who should be annoyed at him, though, because if he wanted to know my name, that’s what he should have said in the first place.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

in the first place

Example Sentences

Related Words