first base

noun

1

: the base that must be touched first by a base runner in baseball

2

: the player position for defending the area around first base

3

: the first step or stage in a course of action

plans never got to first base

first baseman

-ˈbā-smən 

noun

Examples of first base in a Sentence

a runner on first base

She hit a ground ball to first base.

He used to be a catcher, but now he plays first base.

Recent Examples on the Web

Merrill’s groundout to first base ended the threat of the Padres tying the game. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025

And on Tuesday, that meant making his career debut at first base. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025

With 38-year-old Yaz now playing first base, Carlton Fisk behind the dish, and a legendary outfield contingent in Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dwight Evans and Bernie Carbo, Red triumphed over White twice that day. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 20 July 2025

With Kiké Hernandez out because of an elbow injury, catcher Dalton Rushing will be asked to play first base if Freeman misses some upcoming games. —Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 20 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first base

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase

Kids Definition

first base

noun

: the base that must be touched first by a base runner in baseball

also : the position of the player defending the area around first base