first down
- 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.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for first down
Contemporary Examples
In Week 2, New York Jets wideout Santonio Holmes bobbled and dropped what would have been a first-down pass.
