first down

noun

plural first downs

1

: the first of a series of usually four downs (see down entry 5 sense 3a) in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball

2

: a gain of a total of 10 or more yards within usually four downs giving the team the right to start a new series of downs

Examples of first down in a Sentence

They have first down on the 20-yard line.

The pass was completed for a first down.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cousins tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Pitts to tie it at 7, one play after an offside penalty on cornerback Zyon McCollum during a field goal gave Atlanta a first down. —CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025

In addition to the high completion rate, Beck is essentially averaging a first down per pass attempt. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 11 Dec. 2025

The Bears were attempting to just get a first down when Kyle Monangai ran it with 35 seconds left on third-and-1, but he was stuffed and forced a fourth down. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025

Facing 4th-and-2 with two minutes to play, Wood scrambled for a first down, icing the victory. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown