onside kick

noun

: a kickoff in football in which the ball travels just far enough to be legally recoverable by the kicking team

Examples of onside kick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Newton had three chances to recover the ensuing onside kick that seemed to bound around forever before Wall’s Jacob Braden secured it allowing the Hawks to run out the clock. Charles Baggarly & Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Dec. 2025 After Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey’s field goal in the final minute brought Dallas within eight points, Dallas attempted an onside kick with 18 seconds left, but Minnesota recovered. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025 Los Alamitos attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff but Cathedral Catholic recovered. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025 The only way the kicking team can recover an onside kick that doesn’t go 10 yards is if the other team touches the ball first. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for onside kick

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of onside kick was in 1895

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Cite this Entry

“Onside kick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onside%20kick. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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