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

Jadeveon Clowney stuffed Williams for a loss of 3 on first down and the Cowboys couldn't move the ball after that to bring up fourth down. — Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026

Gordon gained two yards on a first down run, and Willis then threw errantly on a pressured throw to Jalen Tolbert that would have gone nowhere even if it had been completed. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026

On his first attempt, Araiza took off on a fake punt and ran 12 yards for a first down. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026

Chicago had more first downs (34) than New York had total plays on offense (32), perhaps the most mind-blowing stat in a game with so many lopsided examples. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for first down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown