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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

“He treats the eighth-string walk-on like he’s a first-string starter. … He’s truly a unique individual, and I’m really glad he’s on our team.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 30, 2024

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

Tucker will wrap up spring practice Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium, where fans will watch a 15-period practice that will include first-string offensive players scrimmaging against the team’s top defense.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 14, 2023

In college, the agent had been a first-string diver on the swimming team; he had almost qualified for the Olympics.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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

They are lucky that the 49er game is last, since by that time S.F. might be locked into the No. 2 position and decide not to risk playing their first string the whole game.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2023

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

From Washington Times ● Sep. 6, 2022

All signs point to Trubisky, who has taken the vast majority of snaps with the first string.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 18, 2022

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