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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

The redshirt sophomore took first-string repetitions Saturday, followed by Nick Billoups, Henry Hasselbeck and Colton Gumino.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2025

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

Four cornerbacks appear to be vying for first-string duties opposite Smith-Wade.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 1, 2023

The players ran at full strength under the angry glaze of the lights, the first-string offense and defense going against so-called scout teams simulating the offense and defense of the coming week’s opponent.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

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

So did Panthers defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who kept noticing how the kid running the scout team offense in the spring and summer of 2017 seemed to relish getting hit by the first string.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 5, 2022

Smythies says he was here in May 2019, when the first string of 60 Starlink satellites blazed across the sky.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 6, 2021

This year nothing is keeping me off the first string.

From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli