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

-ˈbā-smən 

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

Then, after Ohtani was intentionally walked with first base open, Betts provided the knockout blow, crushing a hanging first-pitch slider to left for his 15th home run of the season. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2024

Hyde then went back over to the umpires by the first base line to make his voice heard and crew chief Alan Porter threw him out of the game. —Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 28 July 2024

So while the Yankees have more pressing issues, first base makes the list. —Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2024

Then, in the fifth, Stone failed to record an out, issuing a leadoff walk before yielding run-scoring extra-base hits down the first base line to Miguel Andujar and JJ Bleday that ended his night. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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