jump ball
noun
: a method of putting a basketball into play by tossing it into the air between two opponents who jump up and attempt to tap the ball to a teammate
also
: a ball put into play in this manner
Examples of jump ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That too remains a jump ball, especially as Democrats continue to cry foul over the possibility of the Trump administration taking more steps to claw back on a partisan basis funds that had passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
—
Al Weaver, The Hill, 15 Oct. 2025
Humphrey lacks speed, but the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder used his size to snag a 34-yard jump ball on third-and-12 to keep the Giants’ opening possession alive.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Salter avoided costly turnovers in the second half and also threw a beautiful 31-yard jump ball to Omarion Miller to tie the game at 21 with 11:42 remaining.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025
The same guy who can do that can also go over a cornerback to catch a jump ball for a 21-yard gain in the final 2 minutes on what ultimately proved to be the game-winning drive.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 5 Oct. 2025
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Al Weaver, The Hill, 15 Oct. 2025
Humphrey lacks speed, but the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder used his size to snag a 34-yard jump ball on third-and-12 to keep the Giants’ opening possession alive.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Salter avoided costly turnovers in the second half and also threw a beautiful 31-yard jump ball to Omarion Miller to tie the game at 21 with 11:42 remaining.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2025
The same guy who can do that can also go over a cornerback to catch a jump ball for a 21-yard gain in the final 2 minutes on what ultimately proved to be the game-winning drive.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jump ball
Cite this Entry
“Jump ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump%20ball. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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