at the first opportunity
idiom
: as soon as it is possible for someone to do something
We will correct the error at the first opportunity.
Examples of at the first opportunity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As a penalty, Colorado’s countable athletic activities were reduced by 30 minutes at the first opportunity and rules education on voluntary activities and social media was provided to the football staff, according to the school’s report.
—
USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024
Either everyone in that final room was actively plotting against Prince, or bailed at the first opportunity, like his campaign manager Bradford Luke (Babak Tafti).
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Oct. 2023
Peel off onto Lakeshore Trail at the first opportunity.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2020
And though companies such as ExxonMobil made more money than ever, those profits likely came at a long-term cost as well: this summer, surely some drivers, filling their cars with six-dollar-a-gallon gas, resolved to buy an E.V. at the first opportunity.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2022
In its bid to return at the first opportunity, the club spent 195% of its turnover on player wages.
—Robert Kidd, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2021
In many cities all but the poorest residents decamped for spacious homes at the first opportunity.
—Mene Ukueberuwa, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022
What comes to mind is the patient who goes through a medical hell created by unhealthy behaviors (drinking, smoking, not exercising), only to return to those behaviors at the first opportunity.
—Sachin H. Jain, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2021
It was assumed, and rightly, that Ted would run for president at the first opportunity, which was in the 2016 cycle.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 17 Sep. 2021
USA TODAY, 26 Jan. 2024
Either everyone in that final room was actively plotting against Prince, or bailed at the first opportunity, like his campaign manager Bradford Luke (Babak Tafti).
—Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Oct. 2023
Peel off onto Lakeshore Trail at the first opportunity.
—Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2020
And though companies such as ExxonMobil made more money than ever, those profits likely came at a long-term cost as well: this summer, surely some drivers, filling their cars with six-dollar-a-gallon gas, resolved to buy an E.V. at the first opportunity.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2022
In its bid to return at the first opportunity, the club spent 195% of its turnover on player wages.
—Robert Kidd, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2021
In many cities all but the poorest residents decamped for spacious homes at the first opportunity.
—Mene Ukueberuwa, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022
What comes to mind is the patient who goes through a medical hell created by unhealthy behaviors (drinking, smoking, not exercising), only to return to those behaviors at the first opportunity.
—Sachin H. Jain, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2021
It was assumed, and rightly, that Ted would run for president at the first opportunity, which was in the 2016 cycle.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 17 Sep. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'at the first opportunity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near at the first opportunity
Cite this Entry
“At the first opportunity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20first%20opportunity. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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