first night

noun

: the night on which a theatrical production is first performed at a given place
also : the performance itself

Examples of first night in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But as the streaming and on-demand era took hold, how well a show performed on its very first night mattered less and less. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024 When observing additional ticket drops for shows in summer 2023, releases happened about 26 hours before the first night of the show, and again the day of. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Nov. 2024 Now, initial ratings tend to be dismal, which shouldn’t come as a shock: Audiences long ago changed their TV habits, and that first night total viewer number is just the start of a long tail. Michael Schneider, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024 Research shows that our brains are wired to stay more alert in new surroundings, particularly during the first night in a new location. Anita Bhagwandas, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for first night 

Word History

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of first night was in 1698

Dictionary Entries Near first night

Cite this Entry

“First night.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20night. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!