bat around
verb
batted around; batting around; bats around
informal
: to think about or talk about (something, such as an idea) for a period of time
The plan was batted around for a while, but it was finally rejected.
We've been batting the idea around for a few years.
Examples of bat around in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Still, the team likes to keep a separate list of investment ideas to bat around.
—
Paulina Likos, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
America’s $39 trillion national debt has become a familiar political football—batted around in budget negotiations, invoked at congressional hearings, and largely ignored between elections.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
That’s when Servite batted around during a five-run outburst.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
José Urquidy allowed six hits and four runs, two on Jacob Young's second homer, as the Nationals batted around in the seventh.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bat around
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Paulina Likos, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
America’s $39 trillion national debt has become a familiar political football—batted around in budget negotiations, invoked at congressional hearings, and largely ignored between elections.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
That’s when Servite batted around during a five-run outburst.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
José Urquidy allowed six hits and four runs, two on Jacob Young's second homer, as the Nationals batted around in the seventh.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bat around
Cite this Entry
“Bat around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bat%20around. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
