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

Norby and Graham Pauley are the main contenders at third base while a handful of players (including outfielder Griffin Conine and offseason signing Christopher Morel) among the players competing for playing time at first base. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026

Could Reese Atwood play first base, too? —Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026

With last year’s power spike, Stewart projects to 25 or so homers a year, and that plus his outstanding contact skills give him a real chance to be a star even at first base. —Keith Law, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Pasquantino is expected to play solid first base and be a top slugger in the lineup. —Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 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