balls 1 of 3

plural of ball
1
as in spheres
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 bullets
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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balls

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of ball

balls

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of ball
as in rounds
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 balls
Noun
Think timeless toys like sand, rubber balls, jump rope, and cardboard boxes. Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 6 Nov. 2025 His was a random assortment, the stuff of Walmart value packs, including the clip-on bobber balls that amateurs use. Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025 The Red Sox need a middle-of-the-order power threat, preferably a righty who can launch balls over the Green Monster. Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025 Those videos and photos show protesters who had been struck in the face or back by pepper balls leading to visible marks or bleeding. Nbc Chicago, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025 How to play the Powerball To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Nov. 2025 Or perhaps feces from Vaulted Deep, seaweed from Running Tide, rocky dust from Lithos, or the latest squishy white balls from Spiritus? Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025 What to know about Mega Millions To score the jackpot in the Mega Millions, a player must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025 What to know about Powerball To score a jackpot in the Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball. Don Sweeney, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Arrange the dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025 Defense overall just balls Two. Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balls
Verb
  • An 11-bay carriage house with a guest apartment, along with a 4,500-square-foot staff house, rounds out the magnificent estate.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Cozy fleece blankets keep the chill at bay, while a steaming cup of tea rounds out the meal.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • My eleven-year-old self rolls her eyes, glares at my thirty-six-year-old body, and silently calls me fat.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Frank’s crew rolls into the crumbling squat that is Colombian HQ, sporting body armor and flamethrowers.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Balls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balls. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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