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

The 28-year-old Wagaman started 94 games at first base and 13 games in left field in 2025, after appearing in 18 games with the Los Angeles Angels in his debut in 2024. —CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026

But the Marlins have wanted to upgrade at first base. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025

Like Kim, Song appears to be beginning his Padres tenure as a utility player who can fill it at third, second or first base or perhaps even in the outfield if that’s the need when camp opens in February. —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2025

Here are some of the many angles and layers to this latest Red Sox move: Cost-effective consistency at first base The Orioles outbid the Red Sox for Pete Alonso, but Contreras is more than a mere consolation prize. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 23 Dec. 2025

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