firsthand

adjective

first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand How to pronounce firsthand (audio)
Synonyms of firsthandnext
: 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.
firsthand adverb

Synonyms

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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
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.
Having grown up in Sunnyvale, Barry has witnessed the metamorphosis of Silicon Valley firsthand—from cherry and apricot orchards to the epicenter of global innovation. — Taarini Kaur Dang, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 Having bird feeders in your yard can give you a firsthand look at the amazing creatures that make our ecosystems function with ease. — Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2025 My experience as Manhattan borough president and a City Council member has given me firsthand knowledge of this problem. — Mark Levine, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2025 With pulse-pounding firsthand footage, this film goes inside a deadly twister. THURSDAY, MARCH 20 📺 Happy Face (Paramount+, two-episode premiere) Annaleigh Ashford plays Melissa B. Moore, who at 15 discovered that her father (Dennis Quaid) was a serial killer. — Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firsthand

Word History

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of firsthand was in 1699

Rhymes for firsthand

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firsthand
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Cite this Entry

“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

firsthand

adjective
first·​hand ˈfərst-ˈhand How to pronounce firsthand (audio)
: coming directly from the original source
a firsthand account of the war
firsthand adverb

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