fade·away
ˈfād-ə-ˌwā 
plural fadeaways
1
b
: a slide in which a base runner throws his or her body sideways to avoid the tag
c
basketball
: a shot made or attempted while moving away from the basket
Rick Fox sank a 12-foot fadeaway with 1:10 left for a 93-91 Lakers lead …—
The New York Times
The New York Times2
: an act or instance of fading away
basketball
: made or attempted while moving away from the basket
a fadeaway jump shot
Examples of fadeaway in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebAnthony Gharib, USA TODAY, 12 July 2023
After McDaniel and Williams each split a pair of free throws, a Pickett fadeaway over Dickinson got Penn State back within three.
—Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 5 Jan. 2023
He also was celebrated Saturday night as the 7-footer who revolutionized basketball as the first true stretch-power forward and for his iconic and widely copied one-legged fadeaway.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 13 Aug. 2023
After Ingram’s seventh, a baseline fadeaway of remarkable difficulty, the crowd audibly gasped.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2022
But after Cedi Osman missed a midrange fadeaway jumper with 7.5 seconds left, Josh Hart corralled the rebound giving New Orleans one final possession and a shot at a tie or the win.
—Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 1 Feb. 2022
Munster appeared to have the game in hand when Trilli, who played all 36 minutes, made a fadeaway with 1:39 left in the third quarter to make it 54-34.
—Michael Osipoff, chicagotribune.com, 26 Jan. 2022
Paul moved the 7-footer all around the floor then put up a little fadeaway that Antetokounmpo couldn’t touch.
—Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 17 July 2021
McLain fielded a sharp ground ball behind the second base bag, raced to tag the base and made a fadeaway throw to first off of one leg for the 6-3 double play.
—Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 24 May 2023
Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Aug. 2023
Joel Embiid hit a fadeaway jumper near the free-throw line to to give his team a 120-119 lead over the Trail Blazers with 1.1 seconds remaining.
—Afentres, oregonlive, 10 Mar. 2023
Jayson Tatum tied the game with a fadeaway jumper with 1.5 seconds left, just enough time for another heartbreak.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Jan. 2022
With Matthews in his way, Butler opted to jab step forward before stepping back for a tough, fadeaway jumper from just inside the three-point line at the buzzer.
—Matt Velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2020
The crowd at the Little Tokyo gym roared as the basketball player, his team down a dozen points, dodged a defender, spun and hit a fadeaway shot.
—Chris Kuo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2021
After Gavin Lutz made two free throws to tie the game at 42 with a minute and 6 seconds left, Newport held the ball for the final minute before Jabari Covington hit a fadeaway jump shot with 2.5 seconds left to send the Wildcats to Rupp Arena for the first time since 2010.
—Brendan Connelly, The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2023
Using the Elam Ending to finish the game by reaching a targeted score of 163 points, Team LeBron outscored Team Durant 25-21 the fourth quarter and James finished the game with a fadeaway jumper for the victory.
—Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2022
James followed that with a step-back 3 and then drained a fadeaway turn-around jumper in the corner before shaking his head at Cleveland' bench.
—Tom Withers, Star Tribune, 25 Jan. 2021
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Noun
Bryant got the last laugh, nailing a game-winning fadeaway over Harden to end the game, sending the Drew League crowd to rush the court and wrap their arms around the 6-foot-6 guards waist.
—Anthony Gharib, USA TODAY, 12 July 2023
After McDaniel and Williams each split a pair of free throws, a Pickett fadeaway over Dickinson got Penn State back within three.
—Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 5 Jan. 2023
He also was celebrated Saturday night as the 7-footer who revolutionized basketball as the first true stretch-power forward and for his iconic and widely copied one-legged fadeaway.
—Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 13 Aug. 2023
After Ingram’s seventh, a baseline fadeaway of remarkable difficulty, the crowd audibly gasped.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2022
But after Cedi Osman missed a midrange fadeaway jumper with 7.5 seconds left, Josh Hart corralled the rebound giving New Orleans one final possession and a shot at a tie or the win.
—Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 1 Feb. 2022
Munster appeared to have the game in hand when Trilli, who played all 36 minutes, made a fadeaway with 1:39 left in the third quarter to make it 54-34.
—Michael Osipoff, chicagotribune.com, 26 Jan. 2022
Paul moved the 7-footer all around the floor then put up a little fadeaway that Antetokounmpo couldn’t touch.
—Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 17 July 2021
McLain fielded a sharp ground ball behind the second base bag, raced to tag the base and made a fadeaway throw to first off of one leg for the 6-3 double play.
—Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 24 May 2023
Adjective
With three 3-pointers and a fadeaway jump shot, Mitchell personally went on an 11-2 run over the Mercury in a two-minute stretch, finishing the game with a season-high 28 points on 10-of-22 shooting.
—Chloe Peterson, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Aug. 2023
Joel Embiid hit a fadeaway jumper near the free-throw line to to give his team a 120-119 lead over the Trail Blazers with 1.1 seconds remaining.
—Afentres, oregonlive, 10 Mar. 2023
Jayson Tatum tied the game with a fadeaway jumper with 1.5 seconds left, just enough time for another heartbreak.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Jan. 2022
With Matthews in his way, Butler opted to jab step forward before stepping back for a tough, fadeaway jumper from just inside the three-point line at the buzzer.
—Matt Velazquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2020
The crowd at the Little Tokyo gym roared as the basketball player, his team down a dozen points, dodged a defender, spun and hit a fadeaway shot.
—Chris Kuo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2021
After Gavin Lutz made two free throws to tie the game at 42 with a minute and 6 seconds left, Newport held the ball for the final minute before Jabari Covington hit a fadeaway jump shot with 2.5 seconds left to send the Wildcats to Rupp Arena for the first time since 2010.
—Brendan Connelly, The Enquirer, 8 Mar. 2023
Using the Elam Ending to finish the game by reaching a targeted score of 163 points, Team LeBron outscored Team Durant 25-21 the fourth quarter and James finished the game with a fadeaway jumper for the victory.
—Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2022
James followed that with a step-back 3 and then drained a fadeaway turn-around jumper in the corner before shaking his head at Cleveland' bench.
—Tom Withers, Star Tribune, 25 Jan. 2021
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fadeaway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fadeaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fadeaway. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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