first of all
Before anything else
First of all introduces the initial point in a sequence of arguments or explanations: First of all, I never said that. Second, even if I had... .
It signals that more points will follow and often carries a tone of correction or mild exasperation—the speaker is about to set the record straight.
At the outset
- to startAt the outset
- initiallyAt the outset
- primarilyIn the first place
- for startersIntroducing an initial point
preliminarily · leading off · starting out · from the beginning · right off the bat · straight away
Emphasizing top priority
- chieflyAbove all else
- principallyMostly or primarily
- fundamentallyAt the core level
- essentiallyAt its core nature
paramount · crucially · mainly · primarily · especially · notably · significantly · particularly
to begin with
At the outset
for starters · preliminarily · leading off · starting out · from the beginning · right off the bat · straight away
most importantly
Emphasizing top priority
- chieflyAbove all else
- principallyMostly or primarily
- fundamentallyAt the core level
essentially · paramount · crucially · mainly · primarily · especially · notably · significantly · particularly · markedly
- 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
- story phrasesonce upon a time, happily ever after, the end, long ago, a long time ago
- transitionstransition, blending, segue, fade, changeover
first of alllastly
At the end
finally · last · in conclusion · to conclude · ultimately
first of allleast of all
Lowest in consideration
incidentally · by the way · parenthetically · last but not least · as an aside
all, first, foremost, first-rate, firstly, first-class, firstborn, first-time, first-timer