first come, first served
idiom
variants
or first come, first serve
—used to say that the people who arrive earliest get served or treated before the people who arrive later
The campsites are first come, first served, so we'd better get there early.
The campsites are assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis.
"Aren't there any cookies left?" "Sorry—first come, first served."
Examples of first come, first served in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bike parking Bike parking is free and first come, first served.
—
Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Species choice will be first come, first served by reservation.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2025
Free Groceries: 9 a.m., Ramona Food & Clothes Closet parking lot, 773 Main St. Open to 18 years or older, first come, first served, 20 to 25 pounds of fresh produce and staples per family.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
The tour is limited to 15 people and is first come, first served.
Tellus Science Museum
Fun for all ages, the Tellus has 120,000 square feet devoted to all aspects of the sciences.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first come, first served
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Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Species choice will be first come, first served by reservation.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2025
Free Groceries: 9 a.m., Ramona Food & Clothes Closet parking lot, 773 Main St. Open to 18 years or older, first come, first served, 20 to 25 pounds of fresh produce and staples per family.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
The tour is limited to 15 people and is first come, first served.
Tellus Science Museum
Fun for all ages, the Tellus has 120,000 square feet devoted to all aspects of the sciences.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first come, first served
Cite this Entry
“First come, first served.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20come%2C%20first%20served. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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