1
a
: having a sudden, forceful, or attention-grabbing effect : punchy
bang-bang headlines
b
: executed or happening so quickly as to make judgment (as by an umpire or referee) difficult
a bang-bang play at first base
2
: characterized by violent or fast-paced action
a bang-bang movie

Examples of bang-bang in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web No 9-year-old will remember, as an adult, being safe or out on a bang-bang play at first. Dan Gelston, Anchorage Daily News, 9 June 2023 All those bang-bang plays on the bases just got a little more interesting. Jay Cohen, ajc, 20 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bang-bang.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bang-bang was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near bang-bang

Cite this Entry

“Bang-bang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bang-bang. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!