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Showing results for at first.
Definitions

at first

ADVERB
originally
Synonyms
STRONGEST
basically formerly
STRONG
primitively
WEAK
at the outset at the start by birth by origin first in the beginning in the first place incipiently primarily to begin with
Antonyms
WEAK
secondarily
ADVERB
primarily
Synonyms
WEAK
at the start first and foremost from the start in the first place initially originally primitively
Antonyms
WEAK
finally secondarily

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.

The Williamses sold their five-bedroom house in San Diego for $3.2 million and moved to Timaru, renting a home at first.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

And yet, though he at first worried he wouldn’t look big enough, Gadd refused to portray Ruben with a chiseled physique conceived for mere aesthetics.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

"It's just literally impossible to predict, except that I think it will be quite slow at first," he said of output.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

If you stop working before you claim Social Security, you might have no money at all coming in at first.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

She pulled herself to the mirror, an old impulse, and at first did not understand what she saw.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny