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
At 6-foot-4, Vele wins jump balls, shows no fear in traffic and runs routes worthy of Google Maps.
—
Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 14 Aug. 2024
These passes weren’t toss-ups or jump balls — Jackson hit receivers perfectly in stride.
—Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2024
Essentially, the state remains a jump ball, and one that is tough to catch and even tougher to hold.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 8 Aug. 2024
Pennsylvania, too, is a jump ball, which is why Harris and Walz are expected to debut as the ticket there on Tuesday before jetting off to other battlegrounds to start the march toward the convention in Chicago in less than two weeks and Election Day in fewer than 100 days.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jump ball 
Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 14 Aug. 2024
These passes weren’t toss-ups or jump balls — Jackson hit receivers perfectly in stride.
—Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2024
Essentially, the state remains a jump ball, and one that is tough to catch and even tougher to hold.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 8 Aug. 2024
Pennsylvania, too, is a jump ball, which is why Harris and Walz are expected to debut as the ticket there on Tuesday before jetting off to other battlegrounds to start the march toward the convention in Chicago in less than two weeks and Election Day in fewer than 100 days.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jump ball
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jump ball.' 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
“Jump ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump%20ball. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.
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