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

And in the bottom of the seventh, Yoshida led off with a single, Trevor Story walked, Ceddanne Rafaela, pinch-hitting for Marcelo Mayer, lined a ball past the outstretched glove arm of first baseman Keith, but far inside the right-field line for a two-run single. —Gabrielle Starr, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026

Schmitt grounded into a double play, and Jerar Encarnacion (pinch-hitting for Jung Hoo Lee) struck out swinging. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026

Noun

He and his team were essentially asked to pinch hit in the Live Nation trial after the Department of Justice unexpectedly settled with the company in early March. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2026

Busch, benched from the starting lineup, pinch hit for Matt Shaw with two outs in the eighth after a pair of walks by Justin Lawrence and looped an opposite-field single into short left that tied the score 6-6. —CBS News, 12 Apr. 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