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ball 1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbȯl How to pronounce ball (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ball

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in dance
a social gathering for dancing a ball to celebrate the inauguration

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
And like the driver, the mini seems to have magnets to keep your ball in play. — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026 The ball first touches the ground, a player or anything else at a point nearer the opponent’s goal line than the passer’s hand. — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
Instead of being grateful, Quiggle balled his fist, continued to yell and fought with the deputy before being arrested, Linhardt said. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 So, dust off the Chucks, call up your two best (or tallest) pals, and get ready to ball with the top 3-on-3 squads in the area. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
  1. sphere
  2. bullet
  3. dance
  4. round
  5. globe
  6. ammunition
  7. prom
  8. roll
Noun
  • As Gu continues to chart her path through these interconnected spheres, her moves build toward the idea that range may be a new form of leadership.
    — WWD Staff, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The grievances extend to what Algeria cites as Emirati support for Khalifa Haftar in Libya (where Algeria backs the government in Tripoli) and Emirati involvement in the Sahel, both regions Algiers considers its own sphere.
    — Tareq Alotaiba, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of sphere
Noun
  • McKinley stages a few bullet-sweating sequences of peril, including a particularly brutal transport of gold bars across a crumbling rope bridge and an underwater accident exacerbated by floating logs.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Once the mook is within blasting range, Reacher explodes the tank with a bullet — making both the man and the floor as holey as Swiss cheese.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of bullet
Noun
  • Cumbia, a vibrant blend of music and dance, took shape along its banks at El Banco, where drummers still play the rhythms that traveled downstream to Barranquilla and eventually the rest of the world.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The violins dig into the first three notes of a rising theme — only to tumble suddenly into a hushed dance, which Mahler marks grazioso.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of dance
Verb
  • The menu features coffee, with beans provided by Daily Grind, tea, hot and cold drinks, and locally made Hosmer Miuntain Soda, along with an assortment of pastries, bagels, and seasonal goodies round out the menu.
    — Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Jackson Shockley grabbed a 22-yard touchdown, and Seth Davis broke free for a 51-yard score inside the two-minute timeout to round out the scoring.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of round
Noun
  • The property also retains several period details, including a hanging globe light and a red rotary telephone mounted on a kitchen wall.
    — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • And the world, Jahaan, is transformed into globe-like tables with shimmering cast-glass tops that resemble the cosmos.
    — Sean Santiago, Architectural Digest, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of globe
Noun
  • The files show that the informant continued reporting to his intelligence handler while allegedly failing to disclose the full extent of his own involvement in obtaining ammunition for the group.
    — Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • China Arms, which also covered the event, described crews handling ammunition inside the turret and tanks firing while stationary and moving, including shots to the side and rear.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of ammunition
Noun
  • The prom picture caught the attention of Garner's followers, with one fan calling on the actress to reunite with her former date and recreate the pose.
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The past year has been full of milestones for the mother, from Jade’s senior prom to her 18th birthday.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of prom
Verb
  • The blade of the knife rolls forward and backward, loops of green onion gathering in a pyramid beside my father’s wrist.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • During his research, Atan came here for a coffee and stayed for the artisans rolling tobacco and weaving fishing nets.
    — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of roll

Phrases Containing ball

Browse Nearby Words

balky
ball
ballad
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Cite this Entry

“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ball

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ball

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