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

Jones graduated from Columbia High School in Nampa in 2024 before heading to Umpqua Community College that fall as a freshman, and played first base on the Umpqua softball team, according to a college player spotlight. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026

The hope internally is that Caissie, Jakob Marsee and Kyle Stowers can be the team’s long-term starting outfield, but the Marlins also think highly of Griffin Conine, who will get reps at first base in spring training. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026

The Mets have been more frequently linked to fellow free agent Cody Bellinger, a superior defender who plays all three outfield positions, in addition to first base. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026

Song had experience in Korea at third base (500 starts), second base (149 starts) and first base (38 starts). —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first base

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase

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