first-line
adjective
: being the preferred, standard, or first choice
first-line treatment of tuberculosis
compare second-line
Examples of first-line in a Sentence
surgery is usually not considered a first-line treatment for this type of cancer
Recent Examples on the Web
Nelson's grandfather, Bill Christian, and great uncle, Roger Christian, were first-line forwards on the 1960 squad that beat the Soviet Union and Canada to take the title in Squaw Valley, California.
—
CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Nelson’s grandfather, Bill Christian, and great uncle, Roger Christian, were first-line forwards on the 1960 squad that beat the Soviet Union and Canada to take the title in Squaw Valley, California.
—Dave Campbell, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Britta Curl-Salemme was also moved up to the second line with Minnesota Frost teammate Taylor Heise and Abbey Murphy, while Janecke moved from first-line left wing to fourth-line center.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Standard treatments for sleep apnea The standard first-line treatment for OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which uses a mask to deliver pressurized air that keeps the airway open during sleep.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for first-line
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CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Nelson’s grandfather, Bill Christian, and great uncle, Roger Christian, were first-line forwards on the 1960 squad that beat the Soviet Union and Canada to take the title in Squaw Valley, California.
—Dave Campbell, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Britta Curl-Salemme was also moved up to the second line with Minnesota Frost teammate Taylor Heise and Abbey Murphy, while Janecke moved from first-line left wing to fourth-line center.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Standard treatments for sleep apnea The standard first-line treatment for OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which uses a mask to deliver pressurized air that keeps the airway open during sleep.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for first-line
Cite this Entry
“First-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first-line. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
first-line
adjective
: being the preferred, standard, or first choice
first-line treatment of advanced breast cancer
compare second-line
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