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

Anthony was checked by the trainer, finished his at bat and took his position in left field in the bottom of the first, but a short time later when the Red Sox came back on defense in the second inning he was removed. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 May 2026

At the plate, Buth doubled twice and tripled in 4 at bats driving in 2 and scoring once. —Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 May 2026

Pittsburgh also was at bat when Atlanta walked seven straight Pirates in the third inning of a game in 1983. —ABC News, 2 May 2026

Besides, there’s a pressure now of following a grand slam in your first at bat with at least a solid double. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for at bat

• begat
• bobcat
• chitchat
• doormat
• ducat
• eclat
• format
• hazmat
• muskrat
• nonfat
• polecat
• thereat