in the first place

1. From the beginning, at the outset, before anything else. For example, Why didn't you tell me in the first place that you've decided to leave? or He could have bought a new one in the first place .

2. As the first of several items in order of importance. This phrase is usually accompanied by in the second place, third place , and so on, as in I'm not joining the health club because, in the first place, I don't like their hours, and in the second place, I can't afford the dues . [First half of 1600s] Also see for one .

Example Sentences

Perhaps, and No 10 fervently hopes, Sir Keir will wow the crowds at conference, and display why he earned the job to start with, and won the election in the first place.

From BBC

It’s heartening, especially once viewers realize these are fellow Borderland escapees who have picked themselves up from the dire circumstances that led to their otherworldly journey in the first place.

From Salon

Harris certainly could have made better choices, especially if she’d been more willing to reject the demands of people who created the Democratic Party’s crisis in the first place.

From Salon

But what caused Milei to go hat in hand to the U.S. in the first place?

From Salon

Part of the appeal of casseroles in the first place was how they collapsed dinner into a symphony of shortcuts: canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meat, instant rice.

From Salon

Related Words

• basically 
• chiefly 
• first and foremost 
• generally 
• importantly www.thesaurus.com
• largely 
• mostly 
• notably 
• particularly 
• predominantly www.thesaurus.com