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

After shaking off the offseason rust in the first couple of possessions, Swann settled in and launched a jump ball to wideout Jaden Barnes, who mossed a Charlotte defender and slowed down to walk into the end zone. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2025

Herbert went back to Lambert-Smith two plays later on a jump ball in the back right corner of the end zone. —Daniel Popper, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2025

After taking two would-be sacks and backing up on a false start, Maye and the Patriots’ starting offense salvaged a disastrous one-minute drill with a deep jump ball to Kayshon Boutte. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2025

At 6-foot-3 and 165 pounds, Mack flourishes in jump ball situations but there are layers to his game. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2025

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