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

The same period, Coker scored another touchdown — this time from Andy Dalton — after essentially plucking the ball off his defender’s shoulder pads after the defender didn’t turn around to see the jump ball. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2025

Another was a jump ball from Hooker to Dominic Lovett with two minutes to go, down 27, just trying to make a play. —Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025

That leaves Plumlee as the most logical candidate to be on the floor with LaMelo Ball & Co. when the jump ball is thrown in the air to begin the game. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 29 July 2025

This is most likely the same consensus teams who can’t guard me and send double teams from jump ball. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 18 July 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