pinch-hit

1 of 2

verb

ˈpinch-ˈhit 

ˌpinch-

pinch-hit; pinch-hitting; pinch-hits

intransitive verb

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

pinch hit

2 of 2

noun

: a hit made by a pinch hitter

Synonyms of pinch-hit

Verb

• substitute

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

Verb

Mickey Gasper led off the seventh with a single and Andruw Monasterio, pinch-hitting for Seigler, greeted left-hander Brent Headrick with a one-out single. —Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 7 June 2026

Rikuu Nishida pinch-hit with two on and no outs in the eighth, but lined one back to pitcher Brad Keller, who started a 1-6 double play. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026

Noun

If Scott had thrown a scoreless inning and sent the game into the 10th, Roberts planned to have Ohtani pinch hit for Miguel Rojas, the third batter due up. —Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026

Cox, who collected his first hit off a Rockies position player a day earlier, ended up getting just one at-bat — a three-pitch strikeout against Brewers left-hander Shane Drohan — before Drew Gilbert pinch hit for him in the fifth. —Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from pinch hitter

First Known Use

Verb

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1927, in the meaning defined above