first base

noun

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

-ˈbā-smən 

noun

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 on the Web

It was thrown to a hitter who will swing at breaking balls that bounce in front of the first base coach. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 23 July 2026

But a wild pitch enabled Alvarez to reach first base, and Paredes socked the first pitch of 388 feet to left for a three-run home run and a 5-1 lead. — Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

In the fifth inning, the 23-year-old rookie infielder hit a foul ball that ricocheted directly into his groin, dropped to his knees in the batter's box, then got back up and reached first base with a hit on the very next pitch. — Angela Haupt, Time, 22 July 2026

Alfonzo rounded first base, kissed his closed right hand and pointed to the sky. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first base

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase

Kids Definition

first base

noun

: the base that must be touched first by a base runner in baseball

also : the position of the player defending the area around first base