firstly

adverb

first·​ly ˈfərst-lē 

: in the first place : first

Synonyms of firstly

• originally
• initially

Examples of firstly in a Sentence

firstly, gather all the ingredients together

Recent Examples on the Web

In Los Angeles County, cases began to pop up in May, firstly in Pico Rivera and Long Beach, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

This is because, firstly, there is an extra knockout stage match and, secondly, weaker teams will be competing more regularly, providing top players such as Mbappe and Kane with ample opportunities to rack up the goals. — Peter Carline, New York Times, 26 June 2026

If experiencing heat illness, Helberg recommends, firstly, calling 911 for medical help. — Zuri Primos, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026

But the best thing about it is, firstly, being happy and strong in myself. — Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

firstly

adverb

first·​ly ˈfərst-lē 

: in the first place