first base

noun

1
: the base that must be touched first by a base runner in baseball
2
: the player position for defending the area around first base
3
: the first step or stage in a course of action
plans never got to first base
first baseman noun

Examples of first base in a Sentence

a runner on first base She hit a ground ball to first base. He used to be a catcher, but now he plays first base.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cole initially broke toward first base to cover but inexplicably stopped between the mound and the bag, hanging Rizzo out to dry. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 Tyler Wade – Veteran utility man played five different position for the A’s last season and expanded his range this season with the Padres, playing every position except pitcher, catcher and first base. Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 1 Oct. 2024 The Astros tried to make a big splash before the trade deadline to solve their first base problem. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 One of the game’s most durable players, Garvey holds the National League record for playing 1,207 consecutive games at first base. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for first base 

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of first base was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near first base

Cite this Entry

“First base.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20base. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

first base

noun
: the base that must be touched first by a base runner in baseball
also : the position of the player defending the area around first base

More from Merriam-Webster on first base

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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