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

Its contemporary format impresses, firstly, as an altar to capital. — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

This version is, firstly, much larger in terms of the page size, almost double in fact. — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Such an upbringing was rooted and supported firstly by the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

firstly

adverb

first·​ly ˈfərst-lē 

: in the first place