ball up

verb

balled up; balling up; balls up

transitive verb

: to make a mess of : confuse, muddle

intransitive verb

: to become badly muddled or confused

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of ball up was in 1884

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Browse Nearby Words

ball turret

ball up

ballute

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Ball up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball%20up. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.

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