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• first-string
  first-string

  adjective

  composed of regular members, participants, etc. (distinguished from substitute).
• first string
  first string

  noun

  the top player of a team in an individual sport, such as squash

first-string

American  

[furst-string] / ˈfɜrstˈstrɪŋ /

adjective

1. composed of regular members, participants, etc. (distinguished from substitute).

   the first-string team.

2. foremost; main.

   the first-string critics.

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first string British  

noun

1. the top player of a team in an individual sport, such as squash

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adjective

1. being a regular member of a team rather than a substitute or reserve

2. being the top player of a team in an individual sport

3. of high rating; first-class

Other Word Forms

• first-stringer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of first-string

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first-string first string

As first-string quarterback Claire Heisinger watched on crutches from the sideline, Addison Kloch, who is an elite golfer, filled in admirably for the Chargers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2024

At the end of Week 15, 18 teams had started quarterbacks who weren’t their first-string passers on opening day; 56 different quarterbacks have started an NFL game this season.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 19, 2023

At the end of Week 15 of the NFL season, 18 teams had started quarterbacks who weren’t their first-string passers on opening day; 56 different quarterbacks have started an NFL game this season.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 19, 2023

Moreover, regardless of the score, the first-string players almost always remain on the field.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2023

The players ran at full strength under the angry glaze of the lights, the first-string offense and defense going against so-called scout teams simulating the offense and defense of the coming week’s opponent.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

By his mid-20s, Jones had signed a three-record deal with Decca Studios, sharing a label with The Rolling Stones and cutting his first string of hits.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2025

Washington’s backups contributed to those numbers, but the first string wasn’t good.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 6, 2022

And he expects to throw everything he has into walking out of the locker room in early September with the first string.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2022

Smythies says he was here in May 2019, when the first string of 60 Starlink satellites blazed across the sky.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 6, 2021

After the training camp, his coach said that he was second string and that when he starts learning the system, he will be first string.

From "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky