changeup

noun

change·​up ˈchānj-ˌəp 

: a slow pitch in baseball thrown with the same motion as a fastball in order to deceive the batter

Examples of changeup in a Sentence

The batter struck out on a changeup.

Recent Examples on the Web

An affective changeup will give him something with which to compete against lefties and give him the opportunity to change right-handers’ eye level on occasion. —Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026

While Lagrange’s fastball, no stranger to triple-digits, was the star of the show, Boone also thought his changeup and sweeper looked sharp. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026

Greene used a changeup as his third pitch as a rookie and added the split-finger the next year. —C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026

The only hit Volantis surrendered in seven sparkling innings came on a changeup that Aggies leftfielder Zach Story tagged for a double. —David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for changeup

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup