in the first place

1. As the first of several items in order of importance. This phrase is usually accompanied by in the second place, third place , and so on, as in I'm not joining the health club because, in the first place, I don't like their hours, and in the second place, I can't afford the dues . [First half of 1600s] Also see for one .

2. From the beginning, at the outset, before anything else. For example, Why didn't you tell me in the first place that you've decided to leave? or He could have bought a new one in the first place .

Example Sentences

One of the most effective ways of doing this is to develop antibodies that bind to the protein and block it from being nitrated in the first place.

From Science Daily

That's if he ever cared about the noise in the first place, which is doubtful.

From BBC

Von Meyenn adds: "It's precisely because of this memory effect that it's so important to avoid being overweight in the first place. Because that's the simplest way to combat the yo-yo phenomenon."

From Science Daily

Politicians had to "stop insulting your intelligence with the chicanery of easy answers, when that is exactly how we got into this mess in the first place", he said.

From BBC

The decision to hire Juric in the first place only served to highlight the lack of a clear sporting strategy.

From BBC

Related Words

• basically
• chiefly
• first and foremost
• generally
• importantly
• largely
• mostly
• notably
• particularly
• predominantly