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 Eagles used it twice to pick up a first down near the 3-yard line, resetting the downs, and then ran it two more times to punch in a 1-yard touchdown for Hurts, giving the Eagles a 17–13 lead at the time. —Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

Detroit outgained Washington by 40 yards and held a 30-27 advantage in first downs but still lost, largely because of five turnovers. —Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

After the Cardinals failed to pick up the first down, Ward led the Titans on a final drive capped by a walk-off field goal as time expired. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025

Southeastern drove in the final minute of the game to a first down at the Tech 18, but the Wonder Boy defense did its job. —Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 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