as in originally
in the beginning firstly, gather all the ingredients together

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of firstly Its detection means that, firstly, JADES-GS-z13-1-LA produced enough high-energy radiation to excite its neutral hydrogen, and secondly that there was little neutral hydrogen between the galaxy and Earth to block the Lyman-α photons from reaching us in the present. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 Now, the Democratic Party’s institutional failure to focus firstly on the economic security of working families has had epic consequences. John Samuelsen, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025 Its success leads her to rebel, firstly through passionate love affairs with women and then by reclaiming her authorship. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2025 Meissner is unique among current film market directors for her perspective on the circuit having worked as a film sales agent for two decades, firstly for Celluloid Dreams and then Memento. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firstly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firstly
Adverb
  • This story was originally published May 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM.
    Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 29 May 2025
  • This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 11:07 PM.
    Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2025
Adverb
  • Weezy initially teased a C6 release date in a Cetaphil Super Bowl commercial, and ended up officially confirming the album’s June 6 arrival in April.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 June 2025
  • Interviewed later by Fort Lauderdale Police investigators, Lockwood initially denied placing the tracker on the car but later admitted to it when speaking to a supervisor.
    Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Firstly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firstly. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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