first down

noun

plural first downs

: 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

: 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 The drive started when Patrick Mahomes hit Travis Kelce on a 9-yard pass before scrambling for a first down. —

Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile the Red defense held the second offensive unit to 61 total yards and three first downs in the first half. —

Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 14 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for first down

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'first down.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.