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

Casas will likely only be traded from Boston if the Red Sox acquire a third baseman, say Alex Bregman or Nolan Arenado, and move Rafael Devers to first base. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 25 Dec. 2024

That man would flip his bat, hop, step back, do a li’l two-step, all while popping an invisible collar on his way to first base. —Marcus Thompson Ii, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024

All of the recent first base transactions have one notable name omitted. —Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

The 20-year-old playing left field that day stole his first base — the catcher was Jim Sundberg — and went 2-for-8. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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