firsthand
adjective
first·hand
ˈfərst-ˈhand 
: obtained by, coming from, or being direct personal observation or experience
a firsthand account of the war
… had a firsthand view of the turmoil that wracked the region.—
William W. Finan, Jr.
William W. Finan, Jr.
firsthand
adverb
Examples of firsthand in a Sentence
He gave a firsthand account of the battle.
She draws on firsthand experiences for her novel.
Recent Examples on the Web
These are often just babysitters promoting their services and don’t come with the same firsthand recommendations as expat or local mom groups.
—Danielle Owen, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2025
What To Know The auction will feature several significant pieces, including:
Lucy Ridsdale's Telegram: This handwritten message, sent by Ridsdale to her sister in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a rare firsthand account of a survivor's immediate experience.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Such invective, coming from a saboteur with firsthand experience of institutional prudishness, put DeGenevieve in a paradoxical position: that of a professor who, because she was tenured, had the luxury of deriding her own ivory tower.
—Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
Combined with my firsthand experience growing up in Boynton Beach, my education gives me the tools to bring thoughtful, informed leadership to our city.
—Dominick Vargas, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firsthand
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Danielle Owen, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2025
What To Know The auction will feature several significant pieces, including:
Lucy Ridsdale's Telegram: This handwritten message, sent by Ridsdale to her sister in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a rare firsthand account of a survivor's immediate experience.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
Such invective, coming from a saboteur with firsthand experience of institutional prudishness, put DeGenevieve in a paradoxical position: that of a professor who, because she was tenured, had the luxury of deriding her own ivory tower.
—Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025
Combined with my firsthand experience growing up in Boynton Beach, my education gives me the tools to bring thoughtful, informed leadership to our city.
—Dominick Vargas, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for firsthand
Cite this Entry
“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
firsthand
adjective
first·hand
ˈfərst-ˈhand
: coming directly from the original source
a firsthand account of the war
firsthand
adverb
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