first of all
4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for first of all, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adverb — Before anything else; used to introduce the first item in a list of points, steps or objections.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
last of all
finally
How to use first of all
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
first of all, let me
first of all, thank you
first of all, I want to say
Neutral to informal. In speech it often signals mild indignation before a rebuttal ("First of all, how dare you"). Formal writing prefers firstly or first.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between first of all and at first?
First of all orders your points or steps: it means before anything else on the list. At first describes an earlier stage in time that later changed — "at first I hated it, but then I got used to it". They are not interchangeable.
Is it wrong to say first of all when you only make one point?
It is not wrong, but it sets up an expectation of a second point, so listeners may wait for one. If you have only one thing to say, use to begin with or simply say it.
