basketball
noun
bas·ket·ball
ˈba-skit-ˌbȯl 
often attributive
: a usually indoor court game between two teams of usually five players each who score by tossing an inflated ball through a raised goal
also
: the ball used in this game
Examples of basketball in a Sentence
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Girls basketball Avery Terry scored 19 points, while Norah Cataldo contributed 10 points as Acton-Boxboro defeated Burlington 53-39 in the consolation game at the Spartan Classic.
—
Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
In true February college basketball fashion, Tang unleashed his aggravation about his torpedoing season.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
The program ranks among the state’s top 4A boys basketball teams .
—Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Texas basketball enters Tuesday’s home game against LSU on a torrid stretch.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
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Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
In true February college basketball fashion, Tang unleashed his aggravation about his torpedoing season.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
The program ranks among the state’s top 4A boys basketball teams .
—Myah Taylor, Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
Texas basketball enters Tuesday’s home game against LSU on a torrid stretch.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for basketball
Cite this Entry
“Basketball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basketball. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
basketball
noun
bas·ket·ball
-ˌbȯl
: a court game in which each of two teams tries to toss an inflated ball through a raised goal
also
: the ball used in this game
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