first down

noun

plural first downs

1

: the first of a series of usually four downs (see down entry 5 sense 3a) in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball

2

: a gain of a total of 10 or more yards within usually four downs giving the team the right to start a new series of downs

Examples of first down in a Sentence

They have first down on the 20-yard line.

The pass was completed for a first down.

Recent Examples on the Web

So, instead of forcing a punt back to the Seattle offense, the penalty gave the Rams an automatic first down. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026

People know that snow is coming around halftime that will render first downs even more of a challenge. —Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026

The team finished ninth in rushing yards and sixth in rushing first downs, while Hall finished the season as the first Jets running back to reach 1,000 yards in a decade. —Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026

On the drive's seventh play, facing second and 10, Darnold rolled out to pass and found the NFL's leading receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, for a first down. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown