adverb

• Used to introduce a first point or reason.

  ‘firstly it is wrong and secondly it is extremely difficult to implement’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Fur isn't a good fashion choice for two reasons, firstly it simply doesn't look very good.’
  • ‘There were a couple of reasons for this, firstly as it was just too damn hot.’
  • ‘I am on the side of legalising cannabis for a number of reasons, firstly to break the link between cannabis and hard drugs.’
  • ‘If the Government is wrong, that begs two questions: firstly, what does this mean?’
  • ‘These tags are used for a variety of purposes, firstly to format the layout of a web page and secondly to build in links to other pages and files.’
  • ‘That has changed: firstly, he has not had to contend with long-term injury lay-offs.’
  • ‘There are two axioms; firstly, that legal bans only affect the law abiding.’
  • ‘I asked a couple of questions, firstly to ascertain if the public knew there was not going to be a parade.’
  • ‘Two problems: firstly, we don't have a hat that she can sleep in, and as a consequence she mangles her head.’
  • ‘Our criteria were, firstly, we would take people where they wanted to go.’
  • ‘You state that prison serves two purposes - firstly to punish and secondly to protect the public.’
  • ‘OK, firstly, will someone decide whether the girls were wearing headscarves or veils.’
  • ‘Well, firstly I would take issue with the motives she ascribes to grown-up fans.’
  • ‘To raise money you need three things: firstly, a powerful cause, well articulated.’
  • ‘Well firstly I can't escape the impression that the excitable kid is getting a bit carried away.’
  • ‘Dear Neil, firstly, I'd like to thank you for contributing to our journal on a regular basis.’
  • ‘Well, firstly I found it an excellent story and it was hard to put it down.’
  • ‘In other words, there is, firstly, a clear economic case for increased immigration.’
  • ‘The problem with these views is firstly that it is not clear in what sense dialectics is a logic.’
  • ‘Funds would then be needed firstly to refurbish the building and then to cover its operating costs.’

  Synonyms

  before anything else, first and foremost, firstly, in the first place

  View synonyms