ball 1 of 3

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 pieces are easy for little fingers to manipulate, and the final project is delightful—an archery set that shoots little balls at a target! Adrienne So, Wired News, 17 May 2025 At the 10:19 mark of the second quarter, Brown caught the ball in the left corner, with his feet set behind the 3-point line, and had a seemingly wide-open look at the basket. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025 And in the eighth, Soto caught Cody Bellinger’s inning-ending flyout, threw the ball into the crowd in celebration and a fan immediately threw it back onto the pitch much to the delight of everyone around them. Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 17 May 2025 Several cultivars are available from lacecap to pink or white balls of blooms. Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
Verb
  • Picasso, Richter, Hepworth, and Agnes Martin rounded out the highlights in what felt like a confident—if cautious—play for modernist muscle.
    Daniel Cassady for ARTnews, Robb Report, 14 May 2025
  • The Dallas Mavericks won the lottery and will pick first, followed by San Antonio, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Utah to round out the first five spots.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
Verb
  • Fold the top edge of the towel down and roll it tightly halfway down the towel.
    Veronica Bravo, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • Miles initially rolled the plan out at 28 campuses, but more have joined since then.
    Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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