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

One spot the Red Sox may feel a need to upgrade is at first base. —Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025

When Alex Call preceded Ohtani with a single in the 17th inning and clogged up first base, Ohtani walked on four pitches anyway. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025

After a leadoff single by Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho took a 3-and-0 pitch from Glasnow clearly above the strike zone and started to head to first base. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025

Machitar seemed to effortlessly bounce between positions, including catcher and first base. —Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 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