Dictionary
first down
noun
American football : the first of a series of usually four downs in which a team must gain 10 yards to keep the ball; also : the right to start a new series of downs after a gain of 10 or more yards
Full Definition of FIRST DOWN
1
: the first of a series of usually four downs 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
See first down defined for English-language learners
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First Known Use of FIRST DOWN
circa 1897
Rhymes with FIRST DOWN
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