first off

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for first off
Adverb
  • The discovery renews scrutiny of Bolton’s handling of sensitive national security information and echoes long-standing concerns first raised during a contentious legal battle over his 2020 memoir.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, Martin first learned about the possibility of this trip in April.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The city -- home to more than 710,000 people before Russia's full-scale invasion -- is now only around 16 miles from the front line and subject to continuous Russian attacks.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
  • As an independent school leader, Shackelford now makes $101,000 a year.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The Lynx, who blew a 20-point third-quarter lead in Tuesday’s 89-83 overtime Game 2 loss, had a defensive meltdown early in the fourth as the Mercury scored the first seven points, including four at the rim, for a 70-67 lead.
    Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Interim manager Ray Montgomery said he’s been impressed with how Adell bounced back from the struggles early in his career.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • Maybe that will turn up, too, before long, in Helsinki or Manila.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
  • But before long his hearing begins to disappear, leading him down a panicked trail of denial, anger and desperation.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“First off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first%20off. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

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