zunächst

adv · /tsuˈnɛːçst/ ·

Etymology

From Middle High German ze næhste (“close, directly next”). Equivalent to zu + nächst. The sense “first” developed because from the perspective of the start the next thing to do is the first thing.

Translation

first, first of all, in the first place, to begin with, initially

Um Brot zu backen, braucht man zunächst etwas Mehl.

To bake bread, first you need some flour.

Zunächst wollte er ruhig und ungestört aufstehen, sich anziehen und vor allem frühstücken, und dann erst das Weitere überlegen, denn, das merkte er wohl, im Bett würde er mit dem Nachdenken zu keinem vernünftigen Ende kommen.

To begin with, he wanted to get up calmly and undisturbed, get dressed and, above all, have breakfast, and only then think about everything else, because, as he realized very well, in bed he would not come to a sensible conclusion with the thinking.
for now, for the time being

Die Ursache des Unfalls bleibt zunächst unklar.

The cause of the accident remains unclear for now.
next, then, secondly (immediately following the first thing) archaic

Er nahm zuerst den Mantel, zunächst den Hut, schließlich den Schirm.

First he took his coat, then his hat, finally his umbrella.