first night

American  

noun

1. opening night.

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first night British  

noun

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

   2. ( as modifier )

      first-night nerves

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Etymology

Origin of first night

First recorded in 1705–15

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first night

There are Etsy shops full of Hallmark Christmas Cruise items, including one where I purchased $24 T-shirts for the Candy Cane Sail Away party the first night.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

The first night, she sang through the entire setlist, screaming and all — but by the third, she could only perform a few songs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

But it was clear from that first night on that many men chose to have a contraband phone, accepting the risk in large part to keep in touch with their families.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Inside the Villaviciosa de Odon gymnasium, volunteers tried to keep children occupied with games and colouring activities, while others distributed meals after the evacuees had spent their first night sleeping on cots.

From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026

It woke me up the first night or two, and I thought she was trying to tell me something.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

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Related Words

• beginning
• debut
• opening

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