in the first place

/ɪn ðə fərst plɛɪs/
/ɪn ðə fəst plɛɪs/
IPA guide

Definitions of in the first place
  1. adverb
    before now
    “why didn't you tell me in the first place?”
    synonyms: earlier, in the beginning, originally, to begin with
  2. adverb
    of primary import
    “it was in the first place a local matter”
    synonyms: primarily
Pronunciation
US
/ɪn ðə fərst plɛɪs/
UK
/ɪn ðə fəst plɛɪs/
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