ball 1 of 3

Definition of ballnext
1
as in sphere
a more or less round body or mass the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string

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2
as in bullet
a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm found a cache of musket balls while excavating the old fort

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ball

2 of 3

noun (2)

ball

3 of 3

verb

as in to round
to form into a round compact mass balled up the paper and threw it at the garbage can

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ball
Noun
The Mavericks turned the ball over 18 times, seven more times than the Hawks. ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026 The 23-year-old let the ball rip at the end of the third quarter during Wednesday’s matchup against the Mavericks. Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
To test if soil is loamy, take a fistful with a gloved hand and ball it up in your palm. Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026 These are the romance movies that lean into big emotions, meaningful connections, and the kind of love that lingers long after the credits roll — and will likely leave you balling your eyes out. Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
Verb
  • His Mirror bandmate Alton Wong — who took home an acting prize at the Ace Face of Hong Kong Star Awards — and Error member Dee Ho round out the trio, in parts first played by Kamiki Ryunosuke and Nakano Taiga, respectively.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Martin Scorsese has rounded out the cast of his Apple film What Happens at Night with the addition of Welker White, his collaborator on projects including GoodFellas, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • From the get-go, the good times rolled, the stardust fell like a meteor shower (everyone from Nelson Mandela to Catherine Deneuve, Charlize Theron, and the Gipsy Kings).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Simply break out into two teams, and roll the four bocce balls toward the jack without displacing it.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

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