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

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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 However, what has supercharged the project in 2025 and piqued the interest of studios was firstly recognition in April by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of the technology as part of a new industry standard in cinematic accessibility. Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 Mandelson is no stranger to controversy, and twice resigned from Tony Blair's governments: firstly in 1998 over an undeclared interest-free loan; and 2001 over accusations of using his position to influence a passport decision. Barney Henderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 Questions about the forward were bound to be asked, firstly because of the flames around him over the summer and also because Pochettino’s comments about Pulisic sitting out the Gold Cup only served to fan them. Phil Hay, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 This is, firstly, a lot of ground to cover in a project that was ultimately forced to be 82 minutes. Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firstly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firstly
Adverb
  • The software, called VenApp, was originally launched by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2022 as a hybrid application, integrating a messaging service with a helpline for people to report issues with utility services, such as power outages and water disruptions.
    Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Authentic was originally six very long chapters.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
  • To achieve the same result of $10,000 compounded over 40 years, a 45-year-old with only a two-decade compounding horizon would have to initially invest just over $67,000.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
  • There were false police reports initially claiming that fentanyl was to blame.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Firstly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firstly. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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