first-per·son
ˈfərs(t)-ˈpər-sᵊn 
variants
or less commonly first person
1
: of, relating to, or occurring in the first person
a first-person narrative
a first-person verb form
2
: experienced as if through the eyes of an avatar (as in a video game)
As 3-D first-person games evolved, … visual verisimilitude improved …—
Ian Bogost
Ian BogostWhen playing as the lead guitarist in first person mode players will see fans react to how they play.—Sean Michael
see also first-person shooter
Sean Michael1
a
: a set of linguistic forms (such as verb forms, pronouns, and inflectional affixes) referring to the speaker or writer of the utterance in which they occur
b
: a linguistic form belonging to such a set
c
: reference of a linguistic form to the speaker or writer of the utterance in which it occurs
2
: a style of discourse marked by general use of verbs and pronouns of the first person
Examples of first-person in a Sentence
Noun
She always wrote in the first person.
The sentence “I was born in Maine” is written in the first person.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025
The first-person action-adventure game was developed by Retro Studios and will be published by Nintendo.
—Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025
Knowing where they were headed, the writers turned their attention to the opening verse, the first-person singer remembering a period dominated by alcohol and romantic conquests.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2025
In this first-person account, told to PEOPLE's David Chiu, Turman recalls spending time in the Pacific Palisades as a youth, the tense moments surrounding her evacuation and the scenes in her neighborhood upon her return days later.
—Katherine Turman, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for first-person 
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Adjective
The site, which documents the legacy of slavery in America, uses first-person narratives, art, educational exhibits, and interactive media to tell a comprehensive story.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025
The first-person action-adventure game was developed by Retro Studios and will be published by Nintendo.
—Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025
Knowing where they were headed, the writers turned their attention to the opening verse, the first-person singer remembering a period dominated by alcohol and romantic conquests.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2025
In this first-person account, told to PEOPLE's David Chiu, Turman recalls spending time in the Pacific Palisades as a youth, the tense moments surrounding her evacuation and the scenes in her neighborhood upon her return days later.
—Katherine Turman, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for first-person
Articles Related to first-person
Dictionary Entries Near first-person
Cite this Entry
“First-person.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first-person. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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