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

Which is, on paper, a savvy complement to Sutton, who can move the chains, body up smaller foes outside the hashes and win jump balls in the end zone. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026

James lost the jump ball on the following play, yet Smart secured a strip and steal seconds later to temporarily place the Lakers ahead 113-112 with a layup. —Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026

And during a scrap for a loose ball, five bodies hit the floor, and when a jump ball was finally called, Burries and Houston forward Kalifa Sakho laid on the court unwilling to let go. —ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026

Purdy loves throwing jump balls and Evans is one of the greats in that department. —Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jump ball

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale