firstly

adverb

first·ly ˈfərst-lē

Synonyms of firstly

: in the first place : first

Examples of firstly in a Sentence

firstly, gather all the ingredients together

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

This version is, firstly, much larger in terms of the page size, almost double in fact. — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 Such an upbringing was rooted and supported firstly by the late Queen Elizabeth and King Charles. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 In Los Angeles County, cases began to pop up in May, firstly in Pico Rivera and Long Beach, according to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 This is because, firstly, there is an extra knockout stage match and, secondly, weaker teams will be competing more regularly, providing top players such as Mbappe and Kane with ample opportunities to rack up the goals. — Peter Carline, New York Times, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for firstly

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of firstly was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

first love

firstly

first man

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to firstly

Cite this Entry

Style

“Firstly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firstly. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

firstly

adverb

first·ly ˈfərst-lē

: in the first place

firstly

adverb

Synonyms of firstly

Examples of firstly in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of...

There Is No Such Word As "..."

'First' or 'Firstly'?

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on firstly

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

colloquial

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes