to start with

/tə stˈɑːt wɪð/

/tə stˈɑːɹt wɪð/

[phrase]

to start with

[PHRASE]

used when stating the first and foremost reason that needs to be mentioned or considered

***said when talking about the beginning of a situation, especially when it changes later

Examples

1. To start with, neither of us likes housework.

2. It's a lot easier and quicker to start with a tried and true platform and make modifications to it to convert into an unmanned aircraft than is to start from scratch.

3. It's been hard to tackle teacher compensation right now because there's so low to start with that there's always this feeling that any solution, somebody loses.

4. Overall, I always like to start with the easiest, most obvious solutions.