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

Over the weekend, Gallo fielded groundballs at first base. —Andrew Golden, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

With left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for Toronto, Flores slotted back into the starting lineup at first base. —Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 9 July 2024

In his career, he's spent tons of time at all three outfield positions and has played some first base. —Kendra Stanton Lee, Newsweek, 8 July 2024

Who’d have guessed Anthony Rizzo would get hurt in a collision against the Red Sox on June 16 and Rice, converted to first base, would be in the Yankees’ lineup the next game, and eventually lead off? —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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