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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.

The Suffolk County Police Department did not involve federal investigators in the probe at first, and leaders of the investigation faced separate scandals.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

It may seem minor at first, but even small disturbances can build up over time and interfere with the entire sequence.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

It was love at first sight, an experience the now-63-year-old says he hadn’t had before—and hasn’t since.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

What’s more, there are countless small yet memorable visual and narrative details to adore — things that, at first sight, look like bizarre directorial choices, but ultimately operate in the service of this gonzo story.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

It was silvery in the moonlight, a spreading circle at first, but then the pool began to creep toward the door.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

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.