Synonyms

firsthand

American

[furst-hand] / ˈfɜrstˈhænd /

Or first-hand

adverb

from the first or original source.

We heard the news of the accident firsthand from a witness.

adjective

of or relating to the first or original source.
direct from the original source.

firsthand knowledge of the riot.

Etymology

Origin of firsthand

First recorded in 1690–1700; first + hand

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Americans know this firsthand, from the creation of our own Constitution.

From The Wall Street Journal

Releford later moved to Los Angeles, where, as a podiatric surgeon specializing in amputation prevention and limb preservation in high-risk populations, he saw firsthand how diet shapes long-term outcomes.

From Los Angeles Times

She added: "If you are collecting your food in a caddy, you really get to see firsthand what you're throwing away. I think that can really prompt some rethinking."

From BBC

“Wuthering Heights” knew what it was about, and Brontë, despite her lack of firsthand experience in love, had the scripts of normative femininity dead to rights with the book’s relentless conflation of love and torment.

From Salon

Swirling dust, burning trees, thick smoke and drifting embers heighten the danger, while firsthand accounts layered emotional tension.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023