firstly

In the first place; before anything else; first.

Adverb

  1. In the first place; before anything else; first.
    • Firstly, I continue to base most species treatments on personally collected material, rather than on herbarium plants. […] Secondly, I continue to base my concepts on intensive study of a limited suite of collections,...
    • We'll go into more depth with all the specs shortly so anyone less well versed in espresso speak will understand what I'm harping on about, but firstly let's just talk about using the machine. - 2025 May 3, Kev, “Rocket...

Origin

Coined before 1475, from Middle English fyrst-lyk, equivalent to first + -ly.

Forms

1stly

Synonyms

first first of all first up 1stly firstly first off in the first place

Antonyms

lastly

Related

at first in the first place :Category:English sequence adverbs