to begin with

phrase

: as the first thing to be considered

Examples of to begin with in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The fine was controversial to begin with, as fans and pundits pointed out the NFL’s business with beer sponsors such as Bud Light and called the sensitivity over the celebration hypocritical. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026

This is the first playoff series since the 2021 National League Championship Series to begin with three straight one-run decisions. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

In fact, hardline political trends were among the many factors contributing to the terrible escalation to begin with. — Dahlia Scheindlin, Time, 7 Oct. 2026

Besides, Matic’s products don’t get FCC approval to begin with — instead, Matic ships them with an off-the-shelf Intel AX210 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that gets its own approval from the FCC. — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 5 Oct. 2026