Synonyms of at first

at first

phrase

as in originally

in the beginning

He was a bit skittish at first, but he's since gotten more comfortable around people.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• originally
• primarily
• initially
• firstly
• to start with
• incipiently
• primitively

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• finally
• ultimately
• lastly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of at first

Kurtz would have been the club’s first starter at first base since Jason Giambi’s MVP campaign in 2000. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

Stand at the boat ramp below the hillside at first light, and the steam lifts off the current in slow curtains while birds cut silhouettes through a sky that has no business being that beautiful. — Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026

In these novels, the main character has been so absurdly addled by a (late-revealed) trauma that everyday human interactions are wildly aglow with (at first) terror or (later) manic-pixie wonder. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

If your petunias looked stunning at first, but are starting to lag a bit, a lack of nutrients is probably to blame. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026