ˈpinch-ˈhit 
ˌpinch-
pinch-hit; pinch-hitting; pinch-hits
1
: to act or serve in place of another
2
: to bat in the place of another player especially when a hit is particularly needed
: a hit made by a pinch hitter
Examples of pinch-hit in a Sentence
Verb
assigned to pinch-hit as a math teacher for the remainder of the semester
Recent Examples on the Web
Sarah Spencer, AJC.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Leadoff man Austin Martin finished 1-for-1 with two walks before Trevor Larnach pinch-hit for him as the potential tying run in the eighth.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
The club nearly squandered the opportunity again when Story struck out and Andruw Monasterio, who pinch hit for Jarren Duran to set up a righty-on-lefty matchup, grounded one back to the mound for what should have been an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pinch-hit
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Verb
And Ryan Wynn, who came in and got that pinch-hit’s got a couple.
—Sarah Spencer, AJC.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Leadoff man Austin Martin finished 1-for-1 with two walks before Trevor Larnach pinch-hit for him as the potential tying run in the eighth.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
The lefty-swinging Mauricio pinch hit for Tyrone Taylor with one out in the 10th and automatic runner Francisco Lindor at third base.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
The club nearly squandered the opportunity again when Story struck out and Andruw Monasterio, who pinch hit for Jarren Duran to set up a righty-on-lefty matchup, grounded one back to the mound for what should have been an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pinch-hit
Cite this Entry
“Pinch-hit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinch-hit. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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