first come, first served

phrase

variants or first come, first serve

—used to say that the people who arrive earliest get served before those who arrive later

There are no reservations. The campsites are first come, first served.

Examples of first come, first served in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Admission is free and tickets will be given on a first come, first served basis, officials said. — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026

The restaurant is first come, first served, and no reservations. — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

The remaining 40 with a dial of 18-karat white gold with a tantalum screw-down crown and rose gold and a screw-down rose-gold crown will be first come, first serve, according to Massena. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026

Each segment accepts 20 entries per category (first come, first served) and carries a $100 cash prize, except the children’s contest where everyone gets a prize. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1542, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for first come, first served

• conserved
• decurved
• deserved
• incurved
• observed
• preserved
• recurved
• reserved
• subserved
• unnerved
• unserved
• curved