fadeaway

1 of 2

noun

fade·​away ˈfād-ə-ˌwā How to pronounce fadeaway (audio)
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
2
: an act or instance of fading away

fadeaway

2 of 2

adjective

basketball
: made or attempted while moving away from the basket
a fadeaway jump shot

Examples of fadeaway in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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 See More

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.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fadeaway was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near fadeaway

Cite this Entry

“Fadeaway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fadeaway. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on fadeaway

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!