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

The Northwestern defense was understandably caught off guard by the switch, and Huard completed a 10-yard pass for a first down to receiver Tanook Hines, which caused a firestorm on social media. —Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025

And then one for a first down, then another first down. —Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025

Jauan Jennings caught the pass and picked up the first down. —Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

The fact Marjan finally missed his first attempt as a Jayhawk — and the fact Arizona went on to march 80 yards in eight plays and score a game-winning TD — left KU’s fifth-year coach needing to explain his decision to kick instead of go for a first down on fourth-and-2 at the 11-yard-line. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025

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