line drive

noun

: a batted baseball hit in a nearly straight line usually not far above the ground

Examples of line drive in a Sentence

He hit a hard line drive to the shortstop.

Recent Examples on the Web

The problem for the Heat defense is one that requires nimble defenders, who can both take away the 3-point line and stop direct-line drives to the rim. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Estévez suffered a left-foot contusion after being struck by a line drive during a game against the Atlanta Braves. — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026

Sal Frelick was perfectly positioned to run down a 106 mph line drive to right center field off the bat of Freddie Freeman, potentially changing the course of game two. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Yelich smoked a line drive right at Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda, who took the ball to the bag to end the Brewers’ rally and hold Milwaukee to just one run in the inning. — Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for line drive

• overdrive
• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive
• contrive
• deprive
• derive
• khedive
• revive
• survive

Kids Definition

line drive

noun

: a batted baseball hit not far above the ground in a nearly straight line