first base

noun

Definition of first basenext
as in drawing board

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of first base Witt bobbled a groundball as Jo Adell reached first base to begin the frame. — Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026 Royce Lewis hit a tying, two-run single in the second inning, and Ryan Kreidler brought home the go-ahead run with a safety squeeze bunt that turned into a single when nobody covered first base. — ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026 Lucas contacted Cox, then the Yankees’ first base coach, and Cox visited Atlanta incognito to discuss joining the Braves. — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 20 Sep. 2026 Young dove to field a ball as McLean ran to cover first base and took a knee to the side of his head. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for first base
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first base
  1. drawing board
  2. ground zero
  3. beginning
  4. start
  5. day one
  6. outset
  7. baseline
  8. commencement
Noun
  • Compare that to the F-35 Lightning II, which took over 13 years to go from drawing board to first flight.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
  • After trying all three, stick with the one that worked best for you (or go back to drawing board).
    — Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Definition of drawing board
Noun
  • In Europe, multiethnic capitals are pilloried by the far right as demographic time bombs, ground zero for invasions of unwanted foreigners.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Based on interviews with 10current and former Goddard workers, as well as several independent space policy experts, Goddard is ground zero for these sweeping changes.
    — Eric Niiler, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of ground zero
Noun
  • Novelty is also being rewarded, and that is something Abundantia has factored in from the beginning.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The cutting edge facade is just the beginning of the sophisticated design of the hotel, both inside and out.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of beginning
Noun
  • Bell is off to a fantastic start but will need to finish strong.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2026
  • That said, only seven teams in the Super Bowl era have rebounded from an 0-3 start to make the playoffs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of start
Noun
  • The singer recently put out her eighth studio album, Popstar, to much critical acclaim and fanfare online, as her day one fans are taking a victory lap on social media.
    — Angel Diaz, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The insoles have built-in arch support with memory foam footbeds, and they’re designed to hug your feet for a snug fit that feels broken in from day one.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of day one
Noun
  • Company officials characterized the pace as methodical at the outset, followed by an aggressive push toward commercial licensing.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • At the outset of the Civil War, most Southern Jews supported the Confederacy, and approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Jewish men enlisted in its army.
    — Ashley Walters, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of outset
Noun
  • Shifting baseline The past is no longer the best teacher because years of sustained warming have changed the landscape, according to Anderson.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Aces superstar A’ja Wilson received a technical foul after being involved in an altercation with a Fever fan along the baseline during the fourth quarter of Las Vegas’ 99-89 loss to Indiana.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of baseline
Noun
  • The city’s post came shortly after Butker delivered a commencement speech on May 14, 2024, at Benedictine College.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The day before commencement, Metze spent the afternoon watching Texas Tech softball on TV.
    — Benjamin Wofford, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of commencement

Browse Nearby Words

first
first base
first bases
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“First base.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first%20base. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All