first come, first served

phrase

variants or first come, first serve

—used to say that the people who arrive earliest get served before those who arrive later

There are no reservations. The campsites are first come, first served.

Examples of first come, first served in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Each segment accepts 20 entries per category (first come, first served) and carries a $100 cash prize, except the children’s contest where everyone gets a prize. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

Parking lots at the state fair are first come, first served and fill quickly every morning. — Frankie McLister, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

These are available at all of his North American headlining shows, only to be purchased in-person at the venue on the day of the gig — first come, first serve, in the name of rock. — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026

The 14 coveted seats reserved for the public are first come, first served. — ABC News, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1542, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for first come, first served

• conserved
• decurved
• deserved
• incurved
• observed
• preserved
• recurved
• reserved
• subserved
• unnerved
• unserved
• curved