first down
noun
plural first downs
1
: the first of a series of usually four downs (see down entry 5 sense 3a) in which a football team must net a 10-yard gain to retain possession of the ball
2
: a gain of a total of 10 or more yards within usually four downs giving the team the right to start a new series of downs
Examples of first down in a Sentence
They have first down on the 20-yard line.
The pass was completed for a first down.
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, McVay put the game in Matthew Stafford’s hands, and the Rams QB delivered a strike to Tutu Atwell for a first down.
—
Austin Mock, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Remember that: 5:13 left, 10 runs and a kneel down, 58 yards and four first downs.
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2025
That resulted in a penalty, but because Nix had rushed for a first down, there was no loss of down as Shawn Hochuli explained.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2025
The Broncos staged a breathtaking rally to send Saturday’s game into overtime — receiver Marvin Mims Jr. jumped over cornerback Mike Hilton for a 25-yard touchdown reception with eight seconds remaining — and failed to post a single first down on two drives in the extra period.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 28 Dec. 2024
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Austin Mock, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Remember that: 5:13 left, 10 runs and a kneel down, 58 yards and four first downs.
—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2025
That resulted in a penalty, but because Nix had rushed for a first down, there was no loss of down as Shawn Hochuli explained.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2025
The Broncos staged a breathtaking rally to send Saturday’s game into overtime — receiver Marvin Mims Jr. jumped over cornerback Mike Hilton for a 25-yard touchdown reception with eight seconds remaining — and failed to post a single first down on two drives in the extra period.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for first down
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Cite this Entry
“First down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20down. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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