Whether you learn something first-hand or firsthand may depend on where in the world you live.
Both of these terms mean the same thing, but they are standard forms of the same term in two different language communities. Americans and British love their spelling conventions, so you will need to remember when to use each if you want to avoid looking silly.
What is the Difference Between Firsthand and First-hand?
I will explain first-hand vs. firsthand in this article. I will continue by using each word in several example sentences that will allow you to see them in context.
Then, I will show you a mnemonic device that will make choosing first-hand or firsthand much simpler.
When to Use Firsthand
What does firsthand mean? Firsthand is an adjective that describes a primary or original source. It is also an adverb that describes how someone learned something, namely, directly from the source.
Imagine a person handing off a piece of information to someone else. The first person to whom they give that information receives it firsthand. If that first person then gives it to someone else, the information is secondhand, and so on and so forth.
Here are a few more examples,
- I saw firsthand how ruthless and terrible the dictator was with his own people, feasting every night while the citizens starved.
- Firsthand accounts of the murder all agree that the killer sped away in an unmarked silver sedan.
- Speaking to reporters on Friday at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., where he is spending a 17-day working vacation, Mr. Trump said he had intentionally kept his trips home to a minimum after seeing firsthand how disruptive presidential visits can be to New York. –The New York Times
When to Use First-hand
What does first-hand mean? First-hand is an alternative way to spell firsthand. It means the same thing and can be used in all the same situations.
British writers appear to prefer first-hand, while Americans use firsthand.
As a frontline clinician I witness first-hand the human cost of staff shortages, and last month the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), of which I am president, also published a workforce report identifying serious staffing shortages nationwide, which has forced several children’s services to close temporarily. –The Guardian
The following charts graph firsthand vs. first-hand over time, in
American English:
And British English:
As you can see, Americans prefer firsthand, while the British prefer first-hand. This trend has been in place since the middle of the 20th century, when the Americans switched from first-hand to firsthand.
Americans tend to compound things at a faster rate than do British writers. But, as you can see, British writers are using the compounded firsthand with increasing frequency in recent years. Perhaps some day it will be the preferred form, but for now, British writers, stick with first-hand.
Second-hand and third-hand are also hyphenated in British English, but both are compounded in American English.
American English:
British English:
Anything further than that, e.g., fourth-hand, fifth-hand, and the like, is always hyphenated no matter who writes it.
When to Use First Hand
First hand is not an adjective phrase, but it does contain the adjective first. Any time you see this phrase in writing, it refers to the first in a series of hands.
If a ninja chops off the right hand of all his foes, the first time he did so, that foe’s hand would be the first hand he amputated. It’s a silly image, but that is the proper context for first hand.
Trick to Remember the Difference
Firsthand is standard in American English, while first-hand is standard in British English.
The British like to hyphenate things. Even some of their cities are hyphenated, like Stratford-upon-Avon.
Firsthand vs. First-hand Mnemonic: Since Stratford-upon-Avon and first-hand are both hyphenated British things, you should find it easy to remember that first-hand is the British spelling of this term.
Summary
Is it firsthand or first-hand? Firsthand is an adjective and an adverb, where it means primary or original and describes how someone learned something.
- Firsthand is how American writers spell the word.
- First-hand is how British writers spell the same word.
- First hand is an unrelated phrase that may pop up in certain specific contexts.
Contents
- 1 What is the Difference Between Firsthand and First-hand?
- 2 When to Use Firsthand
- 3 When to Use First-hand
- 4 When to Use First Hand
- 5 Trick to Remember the Difference
- 6 Summary
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So many of my rookie mistakes could have been avoided by first-hand exposure to other, more experienced technology entrepreneurs.
Kathryn Minshew
PRONUNCIATION OF FIRST-HAND
GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF FIRST-HAND
First-Hand can act as an adjective and an adverb.
The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.
The adverb is an invariable part of the sentence that can change, explain or simplify a verb or another adverb.
WHAT DOES FIRST-HAND MEAN IN ENGLISH?
First hand
Firsthand means obtained directly from the original source. The phrase may also refer to: ▪ First Hand, the debut album released by Steven Curtis Chapman ▪ First Hand Foundation, a non-profit organisation…
Definition of first-hand in the English dictionary
The definition of first-hand in the dictionary is from the original source; direct or directly.
Synonyms and antonyms of first-hand in the English dictionary of synonyms
SYNONYMS OF «FIRST-HAND»
The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «first-hand» and belong to the same grammatical category.
Translation of «first-hand» into 25 languages
TRANSLATION OF FIRST-HAND
Find out the translation of first-hand to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of first-hand from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «first-hand» in English.
Translator English — Chinese
直接的
1,325 millions of speakers
Translator English — Spanish
de primera mano
570 millions of speakers
Translator English — Hindi
पहली हाथ
380 millions of speakers
Translator English — Arabic
مباشرة
280 millions of speakers
Translator English — Russian
из первых рук
278 millions of speakers
Translator English — Portuguese
de primeira mão
270 millions of speakers
Translator English — Bengali
সরাসরি
260 millions of speakers
Translator English — French
direct
220 millions of speakers
Translator English — Malay
Tangan pertama
190 millions of speakers
Translator English — German
aus erster Hand
180 millions of speakers
Translator English — Japanese
じかに得た
130 millions of speakers
Translator English — Korean
직접 얻은
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Javanese
Dhisik-dhisik
85 millions of speakers
Translator English — Vietnamese
đầu tay
80 millions of speakers
Translator English — Tamil
முதல் கை
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Marathi
पहिल्या हाताने
75 millions of speakers
Translator English — Turkish
ilk elden
70 millions of speakers
Translator English — Italian
diretto
65 millions of speakers
Translator English — Polish
z pierwszej ręki
50 millions of speakers
Translator English — Ukrainian
з перших рук
40 millions of speakers
Translator English — Romanian
Prima mână
30 millions of speakers
Translator English — Greek
πρώτο χέρι
15 millions of speakers
Translator English — Afrikaans
eerste — hand
14 millions of speakers
Translator English — Swedish
första hand
10 millions of speakers
Translator English — Norwegian
første hånd
5 millions of speakers
Trends of use of first-hand
TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «FIRST-HAND»
The term «first-hand» is very widely used and occupies the 20.331 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «first-hand» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of first-hand
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «first-hand».
FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «FIRST-HAND» OVER TIME
The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «first-hand» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «first-hand» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.
Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about first-hand
10 QUOTES WITH «FIRST-HAND»
Famous quotes and sentences with the word first-hand.
With Skype video calling, teachers can provide their students with first-hand knowledge from experts around the world and with other classes who are studying the same subject halfway across the world.
When you are raised, as John Edwards was, in a small town like Robbins, North Carolina, you get to understand poverty and unemployment, or inadequate health care, first-hand by seeing the daily struggles of your friends and neighbors.
I will commit myself to making this state an even greater place to live, work and raise a family. I intend to reach out from border to border to hear first-hand from our citizens about their thoughts, concerns and ideas for our state.
I’d heard about Texas football and how much of a religion it is, but to go to Odessa and experience it first-hand is something different than just hearing about it.
I would love to see as many of the black players as possible in today’s Major League Baseball make every effort to go to the Negro Leagues Museum and get a first-hand view of how it all started.
It would be suicide in the American academy to show too early an interest beyond your doctoral specialization: charges of everything from charlatanry to ambition would be levied and tenure denied. I’ve seen this first-hand.
It is one thing to hear about the forest and the river, but an entirely other experience to go there, to see the environment, and to appreciate the natural riches there first-hand.
Texas’ and America’s farmers are suffering. As the Member of Congress representing the 10th Congressional District of Texas, I have traveled throughout our area and have seen first-hand how the drought has affected our agricultural communities.
So many of my rookie mistakes could have been avoided by first-hand exposure to other, more experienced technology entrepreneurs.
Experience taught me that working families are often just one pay check away from economic disaster. And it showed me first-hand the importance of every family having access to good health care.
10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «FIRST-HAND»
Discover the use of first-hand in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to first-hand and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
First Hand Knowledge: How I Participated in the CIA — Mafia …
A former CIA cover agent ends his silence and reveals shocking details about what he claims was the CIA’s plan to assassinate President Kennedy and how Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon were involved. Reprint.
2
Florence Nightingale at First Hand
Her passionate dedication to her causes shines through her writing, making this book a great read.
3
Left at East Gate: A First—hand Account of the Rendlesham …
A major contribution to the literature.» -Budd Hopkins, author of Missing Time»[O]ne gripping version of the story of this classic UFO case and its aftermath.» -Publisher’s Weekly»This book is dynamite.
Larry Warren, Peter Robbins
4
Making Peace: A First—hand Account of the Arab-Israeli Peace …
An insider’s gripping account of the origins of today’s Middle East peace process at the dramatic Madrid Conference in 1991.
5
Women Travel: First—hand Accounts from More Than 60 Countries
Presents anecdotes from women who collectively traveled to over 60 countries around the world, including India, Peru, Japan, Ghana, France, Albania, and Bhutan.
Natania Jansz, Miranda Davies, 1999
6
First hand: Civil War era drawings from the Becker collection
Published to coincide with an exhibition of the same name at the McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College, First Hand examines drawings from the Becker Archive, the largest private collection of Civil War period drawings, offering its …
Judith Arlene Bookbinder, Sheila Gallagher, McMullen Museum of Art, 2010
7
The English Civil War At First Hand
In doing so he brings out the voices of the civil war generation — those who lost sons, who witnessed massacres and who fought for an ideal. In this book we see their motivations, fears and misery as the horror of war overwhelmed them.
Linda Bierds. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the following magazines,
where these poems first appeared, some in slightly different form: The Atlantic
Monthly: “Questions of Replication: The Brittle-Star”; Field: “The Monarchs,” “Time
and …
9
First Hand Faith: Recapture a Passionate Love for the Savior
«Why do godly parents have rebellious kids?» is a question asked by many heartbroken parents. This book has answers and solutions. It’s based on Bruce Wilkinson’s classic message called, The Three Chairs.
10
Scram!: The Gripping First—hand Account of the Helicopter …
This is their ‘Boys Own’ story, told for the very first time. Harry Benson has interviewed forty of his former colleagues for the book creating a tale of skill, initiative, resourcefulness, humour, luck, and adventure.
10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «FIRST-HAND»
Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term first-hand is used in the context of the following news items.
Batter Up: Former Yankee offers first-hand path to success for …
naples-herald-dot-logo-20×20 (1) NAPLES, Fla.—Before he earned his stripes in the big leagues, pitching for the New York Yankees and the … «Naples Herald, Jul 15»
Clippers player JJ Redick gives a first-hand account of how the NBA …
In the process, players from both teams sent out emoji-based tweets, demonstrating their involvement in this all-out recruiting war. Soon, the … «Businessinsider India, Jul 15»
Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley tours Calgary Court Centre to get …
Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley got a first-hand look Thursday at the justice of the peace system in Calgary in advance of a review of … «Calgary Sun, Jul 15»
HAAF military gets first-hand look at dangers of texting while driving
HAAF military gets first-hand look at dangers of texting while driving … Hunter Army Airfield’s military community is getting a first-hand look at … «FOX6 WBRC — MyFoxAL.com, Jul 15»
NORDC campers get first-hand interaction with area first responders
NORDC campers get first-hand interaction with area first responders. UPDATED 6:33 PM CDT Jul 08, 2015 … «WDSU New Orleans, Jul 15»
Getting first-hand info on functioning of post offices
As part of the Digital India Week observance, the Kollam Head Post office here is getting a good crowd of young and curious visitors. Students … «The Hindu, Jul 15»
UN chief sees impacts of climate change first-hand in Norwegian …
UNITED NATIONS, July 8 (Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Wednesday was in the Norwegian Arctic zone to see first- hand … «GlobalPost, Jul 15»
A first-hand look at first love
Film talk. Weekend and romance go hand-in-hand. While most Delhiites prefer to go to cinema halls to watch the new releases, some prefer to … «Deccan Herald, Jul 15»
Tour de France: Enjoy a first-hand view in the peloton for stage four
THANKS to a deal struck between Team group Velon you can join members of Sky, Tinkoff-Saxo, BMC, and Cannondale-Garmin as they … «The Daily Telegraph, Jul 15»
A First-hand Report from Cincinnati and the (1970) All-Star Game
A First-hand Report from Cincinnati and the (1970) All-Star Game. July 6, 2015 by Joe Distelheim 2. Tony Perez and the Big Red Machine factored heavily in the … «Hardball Times, Jul 15»
REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. First-Hand [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/first-hand-1>. Apr 2023 ».
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Discover all that is hidden in the words on 
из первых рук, непосредственный, прямой
наречие ↓
- непосредственно
- из первых рук
to learn smth. first-hand — а) знать что-л. из личного, опыта; б) узнать что-л. из первых рук 
прилагательное ↓
- непосредственный; прямой
first-hand experience — личный опыт
- (полученный) из первых рук
first-hand information — информация, полученная из первоисточника
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
first-hand account — информация из первых рук
first-hand copy — копия непосредственно с оригинала
learn first-hand — знать из личного опыта; узнать из первых рук
on the first hand — во-первых
copy of first-hand copy — копия с копии, сделанной непосредственно с оригинала; копия с копии
first hand evidence — доказательство из первых рук; первичное доказательство
first-hand knowledge — сведения из первоисточника; знания из первоисточника; знания из первых рук
first-hand purchase — покупка из первых рук
first-hand source — первоисточник
first-hand — непосредственный; непосредственно; первоклассный
Примеры с переводом
This gives a first-hand account of the war.
Это рассказ о войне из первых рук.
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
Schoolchildren can get a taste of the countryside first-hand. 
I have first-hand experience (=experience gained by doing something myself) of running a school.
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
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1
first-hand
first-hand 1. adj. полученный из первых рук — have first-hand knowledge 2.adv. из первых рук 3. noun — at first-hand — see at first-hand
Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > first-hand
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2
first hand
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > first hand
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3
first-hand
1. [͵fɜ:stʹhænd]
1) непосредственный; прямой
2) (полученный) из первых рук
first-hand information — информация, полученная из первоисточника
2. [͵fɜ:stʹhænd]
1) непосредственно
2) из первых рук
to learn smth. first-hand — а) знать что-л. из личного, опыта; б) узнать что-л. из первых рук
НБАРС > first-hand
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4
first hand
1. первоисточник
2. личный опыт
on hand — наличный; имеющийся в распоряжении
English-Russian base dictionary > first hand
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5
first hand
[͵fɜ:stʹhænd]
2) личный опыт
to learn smth. at first hand — убедиться в чём-л. на личном опыте
НБАРС > first hand
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6
first-hand
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > first-hand
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7
first hand
[ˌfɜːst’hænd]
сущ.
He got this information at first hand. — Он получил эту информацию из первых рук.
Англо-русский современный словарь > first hand
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8
first-hand
Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > first-hand
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9
first-hand
1. a непосредственный; прямой
2. adv непосредственно
3. adv из первых рук
English-Russian base dictionary > first-hand
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10
first-hand
непосредственный; непосредственно
English-Russian big medical dictionary > first-hand
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11
first hand
из первых рук ; новый (в отличие от подержанного) ; не бывший в употреблении ;
Англо-Русский словарь финансовых терминов > first hand
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12
first hand
[ˌfɜːst’hænd]
3) Деловая лексика: новый
Универсальный англо-русский словарь > first hand
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13
first hand
Англо-русский экономический словарь > first hand
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14
first hand
[`fɜːst`hænd]
первоисточник
личный опыт
Англо-русский большой универсальный переводческий словарь > first hand
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15
first-hand
[`fɜːst`hænd]
полученный из первых рук
из первых рук
Англо-русский большой универсальный переводческий словарь > first-hand
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16
first hand
(a) полученный из первых рук
* * *
непосредственный, прямой, полученный из первых рук, из первых рук
* * *
1) первоисточник (информации)
2) личный опытНовый англо-русский словарь > first hand
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17
first-hand
Новый англо-русский словарь > first-hand
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18
first-hand
English-Russian dictionary of chemistre > first-hand
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19
first hand
Англо-русский морской словарь > first hand
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20
first-hand
Англо-русский словарь компьютерных и интернет терминов > first-hand
Страницы
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См. также в других словарях:
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first-hand — also first|hand [ˌfə:stˈhænd US ˌfə:rst ] adj [only before noun] first hand experience/knowledge/account etc experience etc that has been learned or gained by doing something yourself or by talking to someone yourself →↑second hand ▪ journalists… … Dictionary of contemporary English
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First hand — is obtained directly from the original source. The phrase may also refer to:* First Hand (album), the debut album released by Steven Curtis Chapman * First Hand Foundation, a non profit organisationee also* Second hand (disambiguation) * Third… … Wikipedia
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first-hand — ► ADJECTIVE & ADVERB ▪ from the original source or personal experience; direct: first hand knowledge. ● at first hand Cf. ↑at first hand … English terms dictionary
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First-hand — a. Obtained directly from the first or original source; hence, without the intervention of an agent; of information; as, a firsthand report; firsthand information; firsthand knowledge. Syn: direct, original. [1913 Webster] One sphere there is … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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first hand — first/second/third/hand phrase if you experience something first hand, you experience it yourself. If you experience something second hand or third hand, someone else tells you about it. Thesaurus: ways of describing involvement and… … Useful english dictionary
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first-hand — if you experience something first hand, you experience it yourself. I ve been a teacher for a long time, and have first hand experience of the way these students behave. (always before noun) … New idioms dictionary
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first|hand — «FURST HAND», adjective, adverb. from the original source; direct: »This is firsthand information (adj.). We got out information firsthand (adv.) … Useful english dictionary
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first hand — also first hand, firsthand 1) ADJ: ADJ n First hand information or experience is gained or learned directly, rather than from other people or from books. School trips give children firsthand experience not available in the classroom. ADV: ADV… … English dictionary
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first-hand — I first hand UK / US or firsthand UK [ˌfɜː(r)stˈhænd] / US [ˌfɜrstˈhænd] adjective a) obtained directly from someone who is involved in something first hand information b) gained by doing something yourself first hand experience II first hand UK… … English dictionary
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first-hand — adjective first hand experience/knowledge/account experience etc that has been learned or gained by doing something yourself: journalists with first hand experience of working in war zones compare secondhand, see also (at) first hand first (35) … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
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first hand — if you experience something first hand, you experience it yourself. Many reporters based in the capital are experiencing the war first hand. It is difficult to appreciate the scale of the problem without seeing the effects of the famine at first… … New idioms dictionary
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать грубую лексику.
На основании Вашего запроса эти примеры могут содержать разговорную лексику.
Предложения
I saw and felt this first-hand.
I have seen first-hand how sport fosters unity.
Мне пришлось видеть из первых рук, как спорт способствует единству.
I know first-hand the suffering that can result from nuclear weapons tests.
«Я не понаслышке знаю о страданиях, которые могут возникнуть в результате испытаний ядерного оружия.
Perhaps, every woman knows first-hand what is leg fatigue.
Наверное, каждому из нас не понаслышке известно, что такое усталость ног.
Meetings in this format allow first-hand learning about local problems.
Встречи в таком формате позволяют из первых уст узнать о проблемах на местах.
I know first-hand he’s a suspicious sort.
Я знаю из первых рук, что он отличается подозрительностью.
Gain experience first-hand with the involvement of service users and carers throughout the programme.
Получите опыт из первых рук с привлечением потребителей услуг и лиц, осуществляющих уход на протяжении всей программы.
That’s «first-hand evidence».
Primary research encompasses interactions such as first-hand interviews and surveys with key level industry experts.
Первичные исследования включают в себя взаимодействие, такое как интервью из первых рук и опросы с экспертами отрасли ключевого уровня.
I know this quite well, first-hand.
I know about that process first-hand.
Get out and learn the truth first-hand.
Well, now you can experience it first-hand.
Так вот, сейчас вы можете узнать об этом из первых рук.
At last I comprehended first-hand what an air-raid meant.
Наконец я узнал из первых рук, что за воздушный налёт имелся в виду.
Create learning opportunities where children experience things first-hand.
Создайте возможности для обучения, где дети могут испытать вещи из первых рук.
I saw first-hand the damage that was done there.
Я видел повреждения, которые получают от этого из первых рук.
And you should experience it first-hand.
So I learned about that case first-hand.
It becomes hard to just experience something first-hand.
Сегодня уже все равно трудно пережить что-то из первых рук.
Create a network of project partners that will provide up-to-date and reliable first-hand content.
Создать сеть партнеров проекта, которые будут предоставлять актуальный и достоверный контент «из первых рук».
Предложения, которые содержат first-hand
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Индекс слова: 1-300, 301-600, 601-900
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Индекс фразы: 1-400, 401-800, 801-1200
: obtained by, coming from, or being direct personal observation or experience
a firsthand account of the war
… had a firsthand view of the turmoil that wracked the region.—
William W. Finan, Jr.
Synonyms
Example Sentences
He gave a firsthand account of the battle.
She draws on firsthand experiences for her novel.
Recent Examples on the Web
Not only did the villagers receive firsthand news of conditions—and atrocities—on the various battlefronts from their soldiers returning home on leave, but Dachau sub-camps and forced labor camps were also located close by.
—Julia Boyd, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Apr. 2023
Earl also dedicated a portion of the book to sharing his firsthand advice with fellow golf parents.
—Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2023
Carp’s research produced a rich collection of firsthand descriptions of the fire, mostly from British officers and loyalists who stayed in New York that September and were intent on helping the British establish control.
—Robert G. Kaiser, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2023
The point is, no matter your previous knowledge or firsthand experience of 1997, a new exhibition at Paris’s Palais Galliera offers a revelatory visit back to a year unlike any other in recent fashion history.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2023
Among his donors are some with firsthand dealings with a high-profile federal prosecution.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023
Customer and employee reviews give you a firsthand understanding of what’s working and what’s not.
—Matthew Dunlap, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023
Viewers will also get a look at Lange’s personal 450-page journal and photos and videos from firsthand participants.
—al, 19 Feb. 2023
Beyond those memorable interview sequences, much of Superpower covers events that anyone following the war this past year is probably aware of, resulting in a movie that serves more as a firsthand recap of all that has happened, and will continue to happen, for who knows how long.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘firsthand.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1699, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of firsthand was
in 1699
Dictionary Entries Near firsthand
Cite this Entry
“Firsthand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firsthand. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
11 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
first-hand
adj, adv
1. from the original source; direct or directly: first-hand news; he got the news first-hand.
2. at first hand from the original source; directly
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
first-hand
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
first
(fəːst) adjective, adverb
before all others in place, time or rank. the first person to arrive; The boy spoke first.
adverb
before doing anything else. `Shall we eat now?’ `Wash your hands first!
noun
the person, animal etc that does something before any other person, animal etc. the first to arrive.
ˈfirstly adverb
in the first place. I have three reasons for not going – firstly, it’s cold, secondly, I’m tired, and thirdly, I don’t want to!
first aid adjective (etc) treatment of a wounded or sick person before the doctor’s arrival: We should all learn first aid; ()
first-aid treatment.
ˈfirst-born adjective, noun
(one’s) oldest (child).
ˌfirst-ˈclass adjective
1. of the best quality. a first-class hotel.
2. very good. This food is first-class!
3. (for) travelling in the best and most expensive part of the train, plane, ship etc. a first-class passenger ticket; (also adverb) She always travels first-class.
ˌfirst-ˈhand adjective, adverb
(of a story, description etc) obtained directly, not through various other people. a first-hand account; I heard the story first-hand.
ˌfirst-ˈrate adjective
of the best quality. She is a first-rate architect.
at first
at the beginning. At first I didn’t like him.
at first hand
obtained etc directly. I was able to acquire information at first hand.
first and foremost
first of all.
first of all
to begin with; the most important thing is. First of all, let’s clear up the mess; First of all, the scheme is impossible – secondly, we can’t afford it.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.