ball 1 of 3

1
as in sphere
a more or less round body or mass the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string

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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

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ball

2 of 3

noun (2)

ball

3 of 3

verb

as in to round
to form into a round compact mass balled up the paper and threw it at the garbage can

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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
Noun
All of this is to say that while the White House publicly maintains its displeasure with the Supreme Court for signaling its unlikelihood to let the tariffs stand, there’s a chance that the court’s refusal to play ball could prove a blessing in disguise. Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025 Former college athletes from places like Wingate and South Carolina mingled easily with people who’d never kicked a ball before. Evan Moore november 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile, fire victims often complain that insurers and their adjusters are low-balling settlement offers. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025 Her brother cannon-balled off a rock to join her. Brianna Randall, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
Verb
  • The major hubs of O'Hare, Atlanta, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth rounded out the top five airports for cancellations, but those airports only lost around 3% of their flights.
    JOSH FUNK, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The cast is rounded out by Ronnie Gene Blevins (Emancipation) and Jeremy Luke (Mob Cops).
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • In the 1930s, rolling black dust storms blanketed America’s Great Plains, uprooting topsoil and crops across 100 million acres of land.
    Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
  • The iconic 12th century Ajloun Castle overlooks rolling hills and olive groves, with dramatic panoramas and drone-friendly views.
    Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

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