How to Use firstly in a Sentence

firstly

adverb
  • And just take care of my health and focus on what's important firstly.
    Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2021
  • Firstly, by thinking the CD was the Holy Grail of audio quality.
    Richard Smirke, Billboard, 19 June 2017
  • Over and over, Nixon was described firstly as an actress on the iconic show (which ended its TV run 14 years ago).
    Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2018
  • There were two topics that were hotly debated: firstly, who would win?
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2024
  • Firstly, all of the ingredients are present for Democrats to retake the House of Representatives.
    Chris Stirewalt, Fox News, 26 May 2017
  • But the other thing is that governments have been firstly more focused on revenue as revenue needs have increased.
    Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2022
  • This data, firstly, needs to be analysed and then have to be put formally to use in a way that’s simple and understandable.
    Niharika Sharma, Quartz India, 7 Oct. 2019
  • For Reti, 44, the cyclone is a reminder of historic loss: firstly through colonial land confiscations, and later the Public Works Act, which allowed land to be claimed for roads.
    Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023
  • So now, in order to create a happier, peaceful world — firstly, inner peace.
    New York Times, 19 June 2017
  • Firstly, Victoria shared a photo from their wedding day, which sees David holding son, Brooklyn.
    Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 July 2017
  • The Frenchman was firstly rocked by a doping ban - which was later lifted - and would go on to have a fallout with his manager, who loaned him to Palace ahead of a permanent move to Selhurst Park last year.
    SI.com, 2 Apr. 2018
  • As for the consequences, firstly Dembele could suspended - without pay - from anywhere between 11 and 30 days.
    SI.com, 22 Aug. 2019
  • My belief is that investments benefit firstly from legal certainty and the right incentives given to market players at the right time in the right place.
    Sébastien Soriano, Slate Magazine, 12 Dec. 2017
  • Answering that question firstly requires an assessment of the damage sustained by the aircraft.
    Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 17 Apr. 2022
  • Transition aides say they are focused firstly on taking steps to address the coronavirus pandemic and boost the economy.
    Andrew Restuccia, WSJ, 28 Sep. 2020
  • No one says the government isn't firstly responsible for their own citizens.
    Cnn Staff, CNN, 15 June 2020
  • The Castell is successful when two conditions are met: firstly, a child called an enxaneta scurries up to the top, raises four fingers—representing the stripes on the Catalan flag—and then descends the other side.
    Gemma Askham, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Mar. 2018
  • The Cabinet hasn’t decided yet as the debate has been focused elsewhere: firstly on whether transition was a good idea at all and latterly on preparations for the no-deal scenario.
    Emma Ross-Thomas, Bloomberg.com, 24 Oct. 2017
  • Firstly because in Latin America and the Caribbean, there is a group of countries trying to legalize, or that has legalized, the use of marijuana .
    Reuters, Fortune, 22 June 2017
  • The Celtics, firstly, finally contained leak outs by defenders after 3-point attempts.
    BostonGlobe.com, 6 Nov. 2021
  • Tsai firstly recommends avoiding blue light from LED screens before bed, as these reduce melatonin secretion.
    Lauryn Higgins, Health, 10 Aug. 2023
  • From my tenure at a record company, two episodes shaped my impressions: firstly, the exorbitant video production budgets, which ballooned once MTV took off.
    Les Borsai, SPIN, 26 June 2023
  • Firstly, the Senate proposed limiting growers to five dispensaries each.
    Dan Sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, 6 May 2017
  • For airlines, this represents a cost, firstly from maintenance: any kind of mechanism is prone to breaking, whether from normal wear and tear or because passengers don't treat airplanes gently.
    John Walton, CNN, 9 Jan. 2023
  • Lost in the discussion — around a team stocked with new additions — of Tamar Bates’ long-term potential or Xavier Johnson’s mercurial nature is the old scouting report no longer applies thanks firstly to the most impactful fresh face thus far.
    Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Dec. 2021
  • This project was firstly an acceleration of what was meant to be a 2020 review of the digital economy, part of this shortly to become the digitalization of the economy and to broaden it out from simply one sub-sector.
    Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2022
  • And the reason why is because, firstly, the traditional left-right divide doesn’t define American politics anymore.
    Bridget Read, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2018
  • Here, firstly, is how Netflix’s official summary describes this new series.
    Andy Meek, BGR, 12 Apr. 2022
  • West Brom almost completed a dramatic and late comeback, firstly when Kolarov accidentally kicked the ball against Costel Pantillimon for an own-goal.
    SI.com, 30 Jan. 2018
  • Firstly, this outcome would require a universality of preferences for certain traits that simply doesn’t exist.
    Daniel MacArthur, WIRED, 1 Feb. 2009

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'firstly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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