first time meeting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first time meeting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the initial encounter or introduction between people. Example: "I was nervous about the first time meeting my future in-laws."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

I know Chad through a friend, though this was our first time meeting.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In many ways this will not be a typical first time meeting.

The Guardian - Sport

There is the powerful main character, used to having everyone at her feet, dealing with the turning around of her perfect world and, for the first time, meeting a man who does not show any interest in her.

The Guardian

"I'm not sure Dan's quite as mature as he needs to be -- a lot of that maturity I think is learned in college -- but four years anywhere is going to do something to you, being out on your own for the first time, meeting new people, having to deal with different situations by yourself.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was also her first time meeting another African-American engineer.

TechCrunch

When Kimbwala got to Code Camp, it was her first time meeting other female engineers, she said.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

He put on his glasses, and, for the first time, met my eyes.

The New Yorker

On Wednesday, Briana Morrissette for the first time met the man who rescued her.

The Washington Post

Russell Martin, catching Rivera for the first time, met him at the mound anyway to go over the signs.

The New York Times - Sports

People can take a little while to warm up, so the second or third time meeting someone might go a lot better than the first.

WikiHow

This was my first time ever meeting him.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "first time meeting", provide context about the individuals involved or the circumstances surrounding the encounter to enhance clarity and interest.

Common error

Avoid using "first time meeting" in continuous tenses (e.g., "I am first time meeting him"). Instead, use a simple past or present perfect construction: "It was the first time I met him" or "It's the first time I've met him."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first time meeting" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It is used to describe the event of an initial encounter. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

19%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Science

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "first time meeting" is a correct and very common noun phrase used to describe an initial encounter. According to Ludwig, this phrase is widely accepted and versatile, suitable for a broad range of contexts, from news reports to academic discussions. While grammatically sound, writers should be mindful of potential misuse in continuous tenses. Alternative phrases like "initial encounter" can offer a more formal tone when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial encounter

Focuses on the event of meeting for the first time.

first encounter

Emphasizes the inaugural nature of the meeting.

first ever meeting

Highlights that it's the absolute first time people are meeting.

first introduction

Highlights the act of being introduced.

initial introduction

Like "first introduction" but with a stronger emphasis.

maiden meeting

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "first time meeting".

first occasion meeting

Emphasizes the specific instance or event.

debut meeting

Implies a formal or significant first meeting.

original meeting

Underscores the very first meeting event.

preliminary meeting

Specifies that the meeting is an initial or preparatory one.

FAQs

How can I use "first time meeting" in a sentence?

You can use "first time meeting" to describe an initial encounter. For example, "I was nervous about the "first time meeting" my partner's family."

What's a more formal way to say "first time meeting"?

A more formal alternative to "first time meeting" is "initial encounter" or "preliminary meeting", especially in business or academic contexts.

Which is correct: "first time meeting" or "first time to meet"?

"First time meeting" is correct when used as a noun phrase. Alternatively, "first time to meet" can be used in a sentence such as "It's my "first time to meet" her parents" although this version sounds less common in modern English.

What's the difference between "first time meeting" and "meeting for the first time"?

"First time meeting" functions as a noun phrase, while "meeting for the first time" is a verbal phrase. They both describe an initial encounter, but they are used differently in sentence structure. For example: "The "first time meeting" was awkward" vs "They are "meeting for the first time"".