first night

American  

noun

1. opening night.

---

first night British  

noun

1. 1. the first public performance of a play or other production

   2. ( as modifier )

      first-night nerves

---

Etymology

Origin of first night

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

“Where else can I go? The first night we left, we ended up sleeping on the seafront corniche in Sidon. I won’t do that again,” said Atallah, 52, sitting in the shade of a tree with his son, brother and sister-in-law.

From Los Angeles Times

She talked about her first night out with her Californian roommate and the culture shock of seeing students wearing shorts to class and their public displays of affection.

From The Wall Street Journal

Back in Lakeland, Israel Vázquez takes no credit for feeding the baby that first night or the ones after.

From Salon

He adds that though she was a “fish out of water” the first night, she found her way.

From Los Angeles Times

Radio was Haarlem’s eyes and ears and very pulse-rate, for after that first night, although we often heard planes overhead, the bombing never came so close again.

From Literature

Related Words

• beginning
• debut
• opening