cannonball

1 of 2

noun

can·​non·​ball ˈka-nən-ˌbȯl 

1

: a usually round solid missile made for firing from a cannon

2

: a jump into water made with the arms holding the knees tight against the chest

3

: a hard flat tennis service

4

: an express train

cannonball

2 of 2

verb

cannonballed; cannonballing; cannonballs

intransitive verb

: to travel with great speed

Synonyms of cannonball

Verb

• speed
• race
• fly
• rush
• travel
• hurry
• jump
• scurry
• trot
• drive
• zip
• chase
• dart
• blow
• blast
• run
• buzz
• scoot
• rocket

Examples of cannonball in a Sentence

Verb

a dune buggy came recklessly cannonballing down the crowded beach

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the long history of artists taking over spaces that once housed the creation of deadly weapons—the Park Avenue Armory in New York, the Arsenale in Venice—Da Corte’s studio was a cannonball factory during the Civil War. — Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 22 Sep. 2026

Later in the day, on the other hand, the artificial grass was hardly visible under the beach towels, and there were parents with squabbling children doing cannonballs into the pool. — Elvira Navarro, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Verb

In lieu of sugarcoating the possibility of being made whole again and/or overstating the extent to which a mutual understanding might allow these characters to identify their common enemy, the film cannonballs into the grim absurdity of a world that’s lost control of itself. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025

Made from a nylon and elastane blend, there is enough comfort and support to cannonball into your favorite lake. — Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cannonball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol
• guaiacol

Kids Definition

cannonball

noun

can·​non·​ball

ˈkan-ən-ˌbȯl

: a usually round solid missile for firing from a cannon