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
Clark struggled to take care of the ball with more turnovers than assists in the first half, while shooting 2 of 6 from the field. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 May 2026 Instead, the ball went through for an RBI single. CBS News, 9 May 2026
Verb
At the time, state officials alleged that Platte County had been low-balling assessments for years. Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026 That’s where the fire-balling Doval could loom large. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
Verb
  • The film will mark Sendijarević’s English-language debut and is expected to round out its international cast in the coming months.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), Emma Ho (The Baker), Noah Alexander Sosnowski (Section 8) and Gabriel Barbosa (May December) round out the cast.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In person, Magyar gives every indication of being magnanimous and down-to-earth, smiling easily, thanking everyone profusely, and treating his son with what looks like authentic affection, even when the cameras aren’t rolling.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026
  • Ella Franey struck out seven in the circle and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored as Abington rolled to a 19-1 South Shore League triumph over Carver in five innings.
    Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 9 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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