in the first place

phrase

1

—used at the end of a sentence to indicate what was true or what should have been done at the beginning of a situation

We should never have gone there in the first place.

I didn't care much for the job in the first place.

2

—used when listing the most important parts of something or the most important reasons for something

I'm not going to tell you because, in the first place, it's none of your business, and in the second place, you would tell everyone else.

Examples of in the first place in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An anniversary tour closely based on the original London production is a reminder of what made the show special in the first place. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

George found himself in Benton in the first place because Louise married Gordon Caldwell, a Scottish engineer. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Avoiding it in the first place makes far more sense, even if the K3's additional hardware and energy requirements complicate the question of its overall environmental footprint. — New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Coleman recommends keeping virtual calls brief, limiting attendance to those who need to participate and asking whether a video call is even necessary in the first place. — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026

Rhymes for in the first place

• aromatase
• oligoclase
• plagioclase
• polymerase
• streptokinase
• triphosphatase
• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace