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
Still, Kelly brings an intriguing frame at 6-foot-1, 186 pounds to the receiver room that could earn him some play in the preseason as a jump ball option.
—
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025
The Democratic primary for the New Jersey governor’s race is a jump ball just more than a month before voters head to the polls.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 May 2025
Davion Mitchell brought the ball down while Allen was on the floor after falling from the jump ball.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
The map in the Senate is nearly Democrat-proof, but the House, with a 7-seat majority today, and likely a 5-seat majority eighteen months from now, is going to be a jump ball.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jump ball
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.
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025
The Democratic primary for the New Jersey governor’s race is a jump ball just more than a month before voters head to the polls.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 May 2025
Davion Mitchell brought the ball down while Allen was on the floor after falling from the jump ball.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
The map in the Senate is nearly Democrat-proof, but the House, with a 7-seat majority today, and likely a 5-seat majority eighteen months from now, is going to be a jump ball.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 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 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share