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

His ground ball went right to second baseman Tommy Edman, who initiated a game-ending double play that required Freddie Freeman to make a sprawling scoop at first base. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025

With young infielder Triston Casas going down with a gruesome knee injury, the massive hole at first base has been apparent in Boston. —Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025

Alonso didn’t get a good look at the injury since he was involved in the play at first base. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025

At one point, Palencia turned and repeated his yells toward Contreras at first base. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025

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