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

Cincinnati can offer Spencer Steer, who has 14 homers and can play first base, third base and left field. — Jim Bowden, New York Times, 17 July 2026

There is far too much swing-and-miss, and too many ground ball outs to second and first base, and weak pop outs. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle throws to first base on a Chicago White Sox's Chase Meidroth bunt during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Detroit. — CBS News, 12 July 2026

Kotsay said that lefty-masher Joey Meneses, who was called up earlier Friday, and backup catcher Jonah Heim will play first base for the A’s while Kurtz is out. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 11 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