# first of all

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/first-of-all
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Firstly; before anything else.

## Examples

- First of all, we need to buy some groceries.
- First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming to this meeting today.
- First of all, the committee must address the budget deficit before considering any new projects for the coming year.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.