first down

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noun Football.

the first of four consecutive plays during which an offensive team must advance the ball at least ten yards to retain possession of it.

a gain of ten or more yards by an offensive team that entitles it to continued possession for a new series of downs.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

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Words nearby first down

first-degree, first-degree burn, first derivative, first division, first-dollar coverage, first down, first edition, First Empire, first estate, first family, first finger

How to use first down in a sentence

If defenses blitz the quarterback hoping to force a turnover or safety, it could open up holes for an offense to exploit, leading to more first downs.
Getting Pinned Down At The 1-Yard Line Isn’t As Bad As You Think|Josh Hermsmeyer|August 19, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
“Especially once we got the lead, it was about first downs and grinding it out and not having a mistake,” Rivera said, praising Smith’s second half and a defense that allowed just 25 yards after Burrow exited.
Methodical and efficient, Alex Smith wins first start since before his injury|Les Carpenter|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
We ran the ball effectively, we took what was given us, we got first downs.
Methodical and efficient, Alex Smith wins first start since before his injury|Les Carpenter|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
Fluoride first entered an American water supply through a rather inelegant technocratic scheme.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST

In the first episode, an officer is shown video of himself shooting and killing a man.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops|Melissa Leon|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But since those rosy scenarios were first floated, the California political scene has grown more crowded.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Eric Garcetti succeeded Villaraigosa and has received high marks in his first year and a half on the job.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He sees himself as the first Muslim president of all Europe.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is the first and principal point at which we can stanch the wastage of teaching energy that now goes on.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
The bride elect rushes up to him, and so they both step down to the foot-lights.
Physiology of The Opera|John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")
He was converted and baptized, and was the first Hebrew instructor at Harvard college.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
And I have not had the first morsel of food prepared from this grain offered me since I reached the shores of Europe.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
I take the Extream Bells, and set down the six Changes on them thus.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman