first come, first served

idiom

variants or first come, first serve

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

The campsites are first come, first served, so we'd better get there early.

The campsites are assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis.

"Aren't there any cookies left?" "Sorry—first come, first served."

Examples of first come, first served in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

General admission tickets cost $79 and standing room entry is first come, first served. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025

All parking is first come, first served and registration is required for all vehicles during event parking hours. —Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 17 July 2025

Seating is first come, first served and dogs are welcome. —Mars Salazar, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

However, a few tables will be held back for walk-ins, and the bar seats will be first come, first served. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2025

Rhymes for first come, first served

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