curveball

noun

curve·​ball ˈkərv-ˌbȯl 

: 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

After a pair of curveballs missed up in the zone, Rathbun laced a fastball that practically dented the right field wall. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 31 May 2026

Rounding out the curveball category—is that a thing in hockey? —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026

Ohtani walked the first batter in the fifth inning but retired the next six in order, finishing his night with seven strikeouts and 14 swings-and-misses (nine on his fastball, four on his sweeper and one on a curveball) but only 56 strikes in his 99 pitches. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 28 May 2026

The World Cup matches in Kansas City will throw the Royals a couple of curveballs. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing curveball

• throw (someone) a curve/curveball

Rhymes for curveball

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