Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
first-nighter

first-nighter

8.9
A person who often goes to the opening night of a play or show
  • noun
  • /ˈfɜrstˌnaɪtər/
  • UK
translation icon : asistente a estrenos
  • She is a dedicated first-nighter who never misses a show.

Examples

  • As a dedicated first-nighter, she never missed the premiere of a major play in the city.

  • Many first-nighters are eager to share their reviews after a show's debut performance.

  • The lobby buzzed with excitement as the first-nighters arrived in their finest attire.

  • Many first-nighters were excited for the new play.

  • As a devoted first-nighter, she never misses the opening night of a new play.

  • Many first-nighters eagerly await the season's kickoff to see the latest performances.

  • He is known as a first-nighter in the theater community for his passion and support of new productions.

Surface Forms

first-nighter singular
first-nighters plural

Morphology

first-nighter = first + night (transparent) = first + night + er

Formed as 'first-night' (the opening/first night) with the agentive suffix '-er' indicating a person associated with that night, a straightforward derivation.

Etymology

First-nighter comes from the phrase first night, meaning the 'opening performance' of a play, plus the ending -er which means a 'person'. So, a first-nighter is someone who goes to that very first show and often shares quick reactions.