at bat
noun
plural at bats
baseball
: a turn at batting
had three hits in five at bats
Note: For the purposes of calculating a player's batting average and slugging percentage, an official at bat is charged for each turn at batting except when the player walks, hits a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly, is hit by a pitched ball, or is interfered with by the catcher.
Examples of at bat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To maintain rookie eligibility, a player must not exceed 45 days of service time, 130 at bats, or 50 innings pitched.
—
Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 8, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
The Little Leaguers did well to return the favor, peppering the major-league game that night with chants for specific players — and not always the ones at bat.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Rafaela ultimately struck out, but the lengthy at bat served to disrupt Alcantara’s rhythm, and the Red Sox took advantage soon after when Roman Anthony worked a two-out walk and scored from first on an RBI double by Alex Bregman, tying the game at 1-1.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at bat
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Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 8, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
The Little Leaguers did well to return the favor, peppering the major-league game that night with chants for specific players — and not always the ones at bat.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Rafaela ultimately struck out, but the lengthy at bat served to disrupt Alcantara’s rhythm, and the Red Sox took advantage soon after when Roman Anthony worked a two-out walk and scored from first on an RBI double by Alex Bregman, tying the game at 1-1.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at bat
Cite this Entry
“At bat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20bat. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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