double-team

verb

dou·​ble-team ˈdə-bəl-ˌtēm How to pronounce double-team (audio)
double-teamed; double-teaming; double-teams

transitive verb

: to block or guard (an opponent) with two players at one time
double-team noun

Examples of double-team in a Sentence

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.
But the best has to go to the 6-foot-4, 347-pound Lawrence, who, while being double-teamed, got his hands up to deflect a Justin Herbert pass, batting it into the air, came off the double-team, snatched the ball out of the air and rumbled 37 yards before getting toppled. Mike Jones, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025 How well the Patriots can successfully double-team Brown should key their rushing attack, as well as how often Henderson can find open space. Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Sep. 2025 Florida’s offensive line double-teams Bain on the right side in an attempt to contain the star edge rusher and open a lane for its running back. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025 Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Thursday that their internal analytics showed Jones was double-teamed on 65% of his snaps against the Eagles. Kansas City Star, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for double-team

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of double-team was in 1860

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Double-team.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-team. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!