FIRST BASE Definition & Meaning

first base

noun

Baseball.
1. the first in counterclockwise order of the bases from home plate.
2. the position of the player covering the area of the infield near first base.

first base

noun

baseball
1. the base that a runner must reach safely to score a hit, and the first of the three bases he must reach safely on the way to home plate in order to score a run
2. the fielding position nearest this base
get to first base informal.
to accomplish the first step of an undertaking

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of first base¹

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

get to first base, Informal.
1. to succeed in the initial phase of a plan or undertaking:
  His suggestions for labor-saving techniques never got to first base.
2. to engage in petting that goes no further than kissing.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Cardenas got a double play to end the fifth and induced three left-handed-hitting Lancers to ground out to first base in the sixth.

From

A few balls that nearly got past whoever was playing first base.

From

Scott Kingery, who played every position but catcher and first base during five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies before being traded to the Angels in November, has used three different gloves in a season.

From

Several times, Freeman grunted as he rolled soft grounders toward first base.

From

Kim played shortstop in Saturday’s exhibition game against Kansas City, booting a first-inning grounder for an error before fielding three grounders cleanly and throwing to first base in the third and fourth innings.

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Browse