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Synonyms

at first

Idioms  

  1. Initially, at the start, as in At first the berries were green, but when they ripened they turned bright red. [Second half of 1500s]

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.

They tend to form gradually as confidence begins to fracture, often invisibly at first.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

By comparison with some of the nefarious plotters in that show, Titus is a bit of an also-ran—at least at first.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Smee admits he knew little about California plants and soil at first, but he says he has since become more connected to the land.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

"This explains why you feel fine at first but then start to feel sick as the infection becomes established," Julius said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

“It’s overwhelming at first, but you’re a really good teacher.”

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.