first down

noun

plural first downs

1

: the first of a series of usually four downs (see down entry 5 sense 3a) in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball

2

: a gain of a total of 10 or more yards within usually four downs giving the team the right to start a new series of downs

Examples of first down in a Sentence

They have first down on the 20-yard line.

The pass was completed for a first down.

Recent Examples on the Web

Over his last 25 regular-season appearances with Buffalo and Houston, the wideout turned 39.7% of his 224 targets into first downs, converted 4.9% of those targets into touchdowns and dropped 4.9% of them, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2025

Players like Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb use the celebration often after first downs and touchdowns. —Angel Diaz, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2025

Even with their disappointing stats and a menagerie of wideouts, Buffalo finished second in scoring, sixth in yards per play, 11th in yards per carry, ninth in yards per pass attempt and sixth in first downs. —Tim Graham, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025

Philadelphia is leading in first downs, 10-1, and in total yards, 151-14. —Owen Hayes, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown