at first
In the beginning
At first means in the beginning or initially, often implying a later change: At first I thought he was joking, but then I realized he was serious.
The phrase sets up contrast between an early impression or state and what came afterward: At first the pain was mild.
At the outset
- originallyFrom the start
- initiallyAt the outset
- beforehandIn advance
- to begin withAt the outset
in the beginning · to start with · from the start · early on · right away · straight away · immediately · promptly
Without full commitment
- provisionallyConditionally, pending confirmation
- experimentallyThrough systematic testing
- roughlyIn approximate terms
- approximatelyClose but not exact
preliminarily · initially · early · incompletely · imperfectly · crudely · sketchily · uncertainly
Brief, casual look
- sightVisual perception faculty
- blushFacial reddening from emotion
- impressionEffect on the mind
- appearanceOutward visible form
look · glimpse · encounter · meeting · introduction · acquaintance · contact · exposure
initially
At the outset
- originallyFrom the start
- initiallyAt the outset
- beforehandIn advance
to begin with · in the beginning · to start with · from the start · early on · right away · straight away · immediately · promptly · without delay
tentatively
Without full commitment
- provisionallyConditionally, pending confirmation
- experimentallyThrough systematic testing
- roughlyIn approximate terms
approximately · preliminarily · initially · early · incompletely · imperfectly · crudely · sketchily · uncertainly · hesitantly
glance
Brief, casual look
- sightVisual perception faculty
- blushFacial reddening from emotion
- impressionEffect on the mind
appearance · look · glimpse · encounter · meeting · introduction · acquaintance · contact · exposure · instance
- beginning phrasesonce upon a time, in the beginning, to start with, to begin with, for starters
- phrasesnoun phrases, noun phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase, prepositional phrases
- sequence wordssecond, third, next, fourth, fifth
at firstat last
After prolonged waiting
in the end · finally · ultimately · eventually · at the end
at firstultimately
In the end
in truth · in reality · in the final analysis · at the end of the day · permanently