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

On a 3rd and 1 late in the third quarter, DC Defenders running back Abram Smith ran through a hole between the left guard and center to convert the first down. —Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

The biggest ones that have been approved so far are changes to overtime rules and how first downs are measured. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

The optimal tracking system notifies officiating instantly if a first down was gained after the ball is spotted by hand. —Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025

My main takeaway was how cool Hollywood Brown’s first down celly was. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 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