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.
My curveball was working really well. Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026 The Royals suggested Chourio use his curveball for first-pitch strikes. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026 José Caballero homered off a 41 mph curveball by infielder Luisangel Acuña in the ninth. Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 16 June 2026 Right in the middle of all those sliders, sweepers and curveballs last season, though, was Webb with his combination of two-seamers and four-seamers. Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 12 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.

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