curveball

noun

curve·​ball ˈkərv-ˌbȯl How to pronounce curveball (audio)
: a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usually to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curveball verb

Examples of curveball in a Sentence

The batter struck out on a curveball.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
After swinging through a slider on the first pitch, Guerrero demolished a low, inside curveball into the concourse over the left-field seats for a two-run homer that made it 4-1. Noah Gulley, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2026 Another curveball came from an order of friars. Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026 Few modern bands would even try to throw that many curveballs into one set. Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 6 Mar. 2026 That included a 1-1 curveball to Matt Olson that was only about one-tenth of an inch off the plate. CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for curveball

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curveball was in 1936

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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