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
Chris Chan Roberson, a former YouTube employee who ran the New York City location in its early days, got a firsthand look at the creators’ ambitions.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
Some of these recent works center firsthand experiences living with HIV/AIDS in a time of PrEP and U=U; poet Danez Smith explores the intersections of queerness, Blackness and HIV in their work.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Staying in any of the best Mexico City Airbnbs means getting a firsthand look at that creativity, with homes that feel personal, thoughtful, and connected to the city around them.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026
That belief emerged from firsthand experience.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for firsthand
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Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
Some of these recent works center firsthand experiences living with HIV/AIDS in a time of PrEP and U=U; poet Danez Smith explores the intersections of queerness, Blackness and HIV in their work.
—Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
Staying in any of the best Mexico City Airbnbs means getting a firsthand look at that creativity, with homes that feel personal, thoughtful, and connected to the city around them.
—Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 29 May 2026
That belief emerged from firsthand experience.
—Craig Lebrau, USA Today, 29 May 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 3 Jun. 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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