firsthand
adjective
first·hand
ˈfərst-ˈhand 
: obtained by, coming from, or being direct personal observation or experience
a firsthand account of the war
… had a firsthand view of the turmoil that wracked the region.—
William W. Finan, Jr.
William W. Finan, Jr.
firsthand
adverb
Examples of firsthand in a Sentence
He gave a firsthand account of the battle.
She draws on firsthand experiences for her novel.
Recent Examples on the Web
New York City’s only living history museum offers a firsthand look at what life was like here hundreds of years ago.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Swirling dust, burning trees, thick smoke and drifting embers heighten the danger, while firsthand accounts layered emotional tension.
—Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
That firsthand perspective is rooted in over 20 years of working with families at pivotal moments in their financial and personal lives.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
This type of immersive education challenges students to engage with conflict not as passive observers but as active participants, working alongside those directly impacted by conflict to understand their experiences and gain firsthand knowledge of the complexities involved in sustaining peace.
—David Dumke, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firsthand
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Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
Swirling dust, burning trees, thick smoke and drifting embers heighten the danger, while firsthand accounts layered emotional tension.
—Daron James, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
That firsthand perspective is rooted in over 20 years of working with families at pivotal moments in their financial and personal lives.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
This type of immersive education challenges students to engage with conflict not as passive observers but as active participants, working alongside those directly impacted by conflict to understand their experiences and gain firsthand knowledge of the complexities involved in sustaining peace.
—David Dumke, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firsthand
Cite this Entry
“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
firsthand
adjective
first·hand
ˈfərst-ˈhand
: coming directly from the original source
a firsthand account of the war
firsthand
adverb
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