yard line

noun

|Updated on: 5 Jun 2018

Definition of yard line

: any of a series of marked or imaginary lines one yard apart on a football field that are parallel to the goal lines and that indicate the distance to the nearest goal line

See yard line defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of yard line from the Web

From the two-yard line with 25 seconds left and the Seahawks down four points, Carroll famously opted for a slant throw from quarterback Russell Wilson, which was then picked off by New England's Malcolm Butler.

— nihal kolur, SI.com, "Cliff Avril: Seahawks Began to Question Pete Carroll After Super Bowl XLIX," 27 May 2018
In the screenshot above, Green Bay’s Ty Montgomery saw the ball check up on the two-yard line, scurried out of bounds, set his feet and then fell on the ball.

— chris chase, For The Win, "7 rules in sports that should be changed today," 3 May 2018
Religion was forbidden, even though Dolphins players pray on the 50 yard line before games.

— molly knight, Marie Claire, "NFL Cheerleaders Shamed for Being Too Sexy—and Not Having Sex at All," 1 May 2018
Had three potential touchdowns end at the one-yard line with stops.

— cleveland.com, "Damion Ratley: Get to know the Browns' No. 175 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft," 28 Apr. 2018
The ball was then placed at the eight-yard line — hey, that’s what happens in scrimmages — and the offense made two plays for what was scored as a 14-13 win over the defense.

— walter villa, miamiherald, "This is why the FIU football team has confidence in its rebuilt defense | Miami Herald," 9 Apr. 2018
In the 2015 Super Bowl, Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll also made an against-all-expectations call on the one-yard line.

— erin arvedlund, Philly.com, "Annie Duke, former World Poker champ, says it's ok not to be certain," 29 Mar. 2018
Sophomore Johnny Johnson also had three catches for 95 yards, including a 57-yarder from the one-yard line after the Oregon defense was having its way for a series of plays.

— tyson alger, OregonLive.com, "Oregon Ducks revel in opportunity to play in Portland: Spring practice recap," 7 Apr. 2018
Back in 2015, the Seahawks elected to pass from the one-yard line instead of going to Marshawn Lynch.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "Has the Eagles' Fletcher Cox really never watched a Super Bowl before?," 24 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'yard line.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.