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]

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Example Sentences

“The Price,” by contrast, is set inside what looks at first glance to be a crowded antique shop but turns out to be the apartment once inhabited by the Franz family after the market crash changed everything.

From Los Angeles Times

At first glance, finding worms in fish may seem alarming.

From Science Daily

CLAIR, Mich.—At first, North America’s biggest auto-parts supplier was thrilled to snag the job of making enclosures for the batteries in General Motors’ new electric pickup.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bowser, who has reformed and seems like a nice guy even after he tricks Luigi and Mario into setting him free from his miniaturization spell, is at first hesitant to follow his son back into iniquity.

From The Wall Street Journal

At first, he was a painting student who stood out enough to have a work included in the annual citywide exhibition at the Municipal Art Gallery in Barnsdall Park.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• basically
• formerly