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

The 49ers barely had any room to breathe and failed to get another first down to ice the game. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Puka Nacua leads the NFL in receiving yards, targets, receptions, yards per route run, targets per route and receiving first downs. —Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Cincinnati got the ball first to start the night and marched 62 yards over 12 plays, picking up four first downs and converting a pair of third downs before settling for a field goal. —Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025

That’s right, Miami’s opponents are halfway to a first down with every run. —Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 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