: the act or an instance of putting the ball in play in basketball by a jump ball
Examples of tip-off in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the retreat of the island's wildlife to higher ground was a tip-off that a tsunami was about to strike
Recent Examples on the Web
Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
The Lakers needed Ayton at his best after backup centers Jaxson Hayes (back soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) were ruled out of the game about 15 minutes before tip-off.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Beyond the newborn, the screenings are a tip-off for testing siblings and other family members.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Knicks head coach Mike Brown praised his 27-year-old point guard prior to tip-off against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tip-off
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The deadline factored in a preseason schedule that needs to include free agency with more than 100 free agents, an expansion draft and a college draft before the beginning of training camp on April 19 and the season tip-off on May 8.
—Chantel Jennings, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
The Lakers needed Ayton at his best after backup centers Jaxson Hayes (back soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) were ruled out of the game about 15 minutes before tip-off.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Beyond the newborn, the screenings are a tip-off for testing siblings and other family members.
—Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Knicks head coach Mike Brown praised his 27-year-old point guard prior to tip-off against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tip-off
Cite this Entry
“Tip-off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tip-off. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
