grand slam

noun

1
baseball : a home run hit with the bases loaded
… the Dodgers' Eric Karros has a shot to become the first player in history to get 200 career home runs without a grand slam.Tim Kurkjian
2
a usually Grand Slam
(1)
: the winning of all four of the most significant championships in a particular sport in the same year
used especially in tennis and golf
… with … Nadal spoiling Federer's bid for the Grand Slam by beating him on the clay at the French Open.Sean Gregory
"And so to St. Andrews to begin the quest for the Grand Slam," he [Bobby Jones] wrote.Dave Anderson
also : the winning of all four such championships during the course of one's career
Woods … could become the youngest player to win the career Grand Slam, at age 24. Clifton Brown
(2)
: one of the championships that comprise a Grand Slam : major entry 2 sense 6
"Last year she was a little hungrier," says Davenport's coach, Robert Van't Hof. "She hadn't won a Grand Slam yet."Diane K. Shah
often used before another noun
a Grand Slam event/tournament
Graf was 17 when she won the first of her 21 Grand Slam titles here in 1987 …Robin Finn
b
: a clean sweep or total success
3
: the winning of all the tricks in one hand of a card game (such as bridge)
Once, looking over Grace's shoulder, I saw her make a grand slam in clubs when the highest trump card in her hand was the nine.William Maxwell

Examples of grand slam in a Sentence

He made a grand slam.
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.
August 26, 2025 Langeliers’ slam was one of two notable grand slams hit at Sutter Health Park. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025 Tatis went 1-for-5 with a grand slam and two strikeouts after missing the first three games of the homestand. Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025 In the third the Blue Jays loaded the bases on two walks and a single, and Anthony Santander pulled what would have been a grand slam just a couple of feet foul. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025 The ball carried through a cloudy sky and crashed into the glove of a celebrating fan, a grand slam that effectively ended a magical Tigers run. Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grand slam

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of grand slam was in 1800

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Cite this Entry

“Grand slam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grand%20slam. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

grand slam

noun
: a home run hit with three runners on base
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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