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

Shuffling out to first base for Boston was Bill Buckner. —Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024

Roberts was on first base and alertly scampered back to avoid a double play. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024

Vogt could have chosen to walk Stanton with first base open and two outs, forcing Jazz Chisolm to beat them. —Dan Freedman, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

Hernandez made at least nine appearances at six different positions (first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field and center field) and even pitched in four games. —Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 15 Oct. 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