first base

noun

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: first base in a Sentence

Definition of first base

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

play \-ˈbā-smən\ noun

See first base defined for English-language learners

See first base defined for kids

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 of first base from the Web

Stammen entered the game in place of starter Tyson Ross with the Padres trailing 1-0 and a runner on first base with one out in the seventh inning.

— kevin acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres notes: Stammen runs into Utley; Lauer's limit; Lyles' rehab," 13 July 2018
With Scooter Gennett on first base, Jesse Winker lined a double down the right-field line.

— bobby nightengale, Cincinnati.com, "Joey Votto homers, Anthony DeSclafani pitches 7 innings as Cincinnati Reds beat Cleveland," 9 July 2018
Gatlin opened the third inning with three consecutive strikeouts but two of his victims landed on first base via those strike-three tosses that hit dirt.

— robert avery, Houston Chronicle, "Mustang all-stars lose Section title to Huntsville," 1 July 2018
On the rare occasion a Mets player finds himself on first base, he can be counted to proceed at a genteel pace, if at all.

— michael powell, New York Times, "The Mets Are Deeply, Thoroughly Broken," 27 June 2018
But Wily Peralta got his second career save after inducing a double-play ground ball from Ryan Braun with a runner on first base.

— maria torres, kansascity, "Adalberto Mondesi sparks offense as Royals score five runs in an inning, beat Brewers," 27 June 2018
Maikel Franco left the game in the seventh with back tightness after slipping on first base and was replaced at third by Mitch Walding.

— matt breen, Philly.com, "Phillies' bullpen coughs up lead in loss to Nationals," 25 June 2018
Marcus Jones dislocated his ankle so badly in a collision with a runner on first base during a college game that the bottom of his foot turned upward.

— sue shellenbarger, WSJ, "What You Can Learn From MLB’s Mental-Skills Coaches," 11 June 2018
With the Mariners in the midst of another game being decided by the slimmest of margins, up 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth, closer Edwin Diaz gave up a one-out single to Johnny Field, putting the tying run on first base.

— ryan divish, The Seattle Times, "A scramble, a bobble and the throw: the inside story of Mitch Haniger’s game-saving laser," 10 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'first base.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of first base

1848

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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FIRST BASE Defined for English Language Learners

first base

noun

Definition of first base for English Language Learners

baseball : the base that must be touched first by a base runner; also : the position of the player who defends the area around first base

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first base

Definition of first base

first baseman

Examples of first base in a Sentence

Recent Examples of first base from the Web

First Known Use of first base

FIRST BASE Defined for English Language Learners

first base

Definition of first base for English Language Learners

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first base

Definition of first base

first baseman

Examples of first base in a Sentence

Recent Examples of first base from the Web

First Known Use of first base

FIRST BASE Defined for English Language Learners

first base

Definition of first base for English Language Learners

Seen and Heard

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