pinch-hit

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

Synonyms of pinch-hit

• substitute

Examples of pinch-hit in a Sentence

assigned to pinch-hit as a math teacher for the remainder of the semester

Recent Examples on the Web

Johnson, who was on the opening-day roster after spending parts of the previous two seasons with the Padres, has not pinch-hit since April 17. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026

In the last 20 years, the Phillies had pinch-hit for their cleanup hitter in the sixth inning or earlier for a non-injury or non-blowout reason only two times. —Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026

Alex Call, who pinch-hit for Ward in the fifth, also drove in two runs with a single to shallow center left field. —Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026

Both of them pinch-hit in Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the Houston Astros, the Cubs’ seventh straight defeat. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from pinch hitter

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1