1
as in sphere
a more or less round body or mass
the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bullet
a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm
found a cache of musket balls while excavating the old fort
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of ball
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
What to know about Powerball To score the jackpot in the Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.
—Daniella Segura, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
Another picture showed Luai, wearing a blue button-down shirt and tan shorts, chasing after a ball in an open field.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 30 June 2025
The Thunder shot a paltry 8-of-30 on 3-pointers and were smoked in 1-on-1 ball.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ball
Noun
The Phillies’ second baseman caught the ball and threw to shortstop Trea Turner to double up Bogaerts at second.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
What to know about Powerball To score the jackpot in the Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.
—Daniella Segura, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
Another picture showed Luai, wearing a blue button-down shirt and tan shorts, chasing after a ball in an open field.
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 30 June 2025
The Thunder shot a paltry 8-of-30 on 3-pointers and were smoked in 1-on-1 ball.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
Verb
-
The first three rounds will take place on Sunday starting at 6 p.m., and rounds 4-20 will take place Monday starting at 11:30 a.m. Fans can watch day one coverage on MLB Network, MLB.com and ESPN.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
13 July 2025
-
In response, Ukraine is beginning to produce counter-drone rifle rounds that can be fired from standard assault rifles.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
Sweden, which also became a NATO member after Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine, reinstituted conscription in 2017.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
-
In the rugged, rolling terrain it’s known for, heavy rains collect quickly in its shallow streams and rivers that can burst into torrents like the deadly flood wave that swept along the Guadalupe River on July 4.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share