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

He put it to the court that those injuries were not as "significant" as at first thought.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Mejia, who is running for reelection as city controller, said he showed up at a polling place and was at first told he had to register to vote.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

He came to Congress in 2017, living at first in an apartment with other members of Congress and staff.

From Salon • May 29, 2026

Fido becomes at first a default, then a dependency.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

I think at first she said her name like that because there must have been a year or two when she shared the same first name with someone else in her class.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

Related Words

• basically
• formerly