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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The schedule for the CIF-SS boys and girls basketball championship games was released Monday.
—
Staff Report, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
The regular season is over, and Fort Worth-area boys basketball teams are starting their playoff runs.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2026
Women’s basketball San Diego State guard Nala Williams was named the Mountain West player of the week for scoring 27 points with 16 rebounds and 11 assists across two wins that allowed the Aztecs to clinch a share of the regular season championship.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Bedichek is known for its loyal alumni, many of whom return each year to play an annual basketball game with staff and students or to hear the band play.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for basketball
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Staff Report, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
The regular season is over, and Fort Worth-area boys basketball teams are starting their playoff runs.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Feb. 2026
Women’s basketball San Diego State guard Nala Williams was named the Mountain West player of the week for scoring 27 points with 16 rebounds and 11 assists across two wins that allowed the Aztecs to clinch a share of the regular season championship.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Bedichek is known for its loyal alumni, many of whom return each year to play an annual basketball game with staff and students or to hear the band play.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 23 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 25 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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