in the first instance

phrase

formal

: before other events happen : as the first thing in a series of actions

You will be seen in the first instance by your own doctor who may then send you to a specialist.

Examples of in the first instance in a Sentence

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This will allow managers to transfer out players who have been knocked out in the first instance, before targeting the best fixtures for each round. —

Holly Shand, New York Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for in the first instance

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“In the first instance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20first%20instance. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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