first down

noun

The first play in a series that has a maximum of four downs.

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Meanings

nounfirst down (plural first downs)

plural first downs

  1. American footballThe first play in a series that has a maximum of four downs.
  2. American footballThe act of getting a first down by advancing the ball more than ten yards ahead of the field position where the team took possession.
Cite this entry
APA

first down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20down

MLA

“first down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20down. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “first down,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20down.

Source: first down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.