balls 1 of 3

Definition of ballsnext
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
Benge had two balls that nearly went over the wall, but almost doesn’t count. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 23 May 2026 In the bottom of the inning, the Stags loaded the bases on two walks and a single with no outs before Johns Hopkins graduate student pitcher Dylan Zucker delivered four straight balls to Martin to push the winning run across the plate. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2026 Cahalan also got a glove on doubles by Lagi Quiroga and Williams, but both balls rolled into left field. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2026 How to play Powerball lottery game To score a jackpot in Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026 Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 21 May 2026 Make Homemade Goop Mix up a bowl of Oobleck, a mysterious matter that kids can shape into balls or let ooze from their fingers. Robin Westen, Parents, 21 May 2026 Kolkata also lost two early wickets of captain Ajinkya Rahane (21) and Finn Allen (8) while Green holed out at deep fine leg after scoring only 4 off 8 balls before Pandey and Powell put the chase back on track with a 64-run stand. ABC News, 20 May 2026 Try putting disco balls in the centerpieces, making the place settings into flower crowns, and adding glitter confetti to the table. Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2026
Verb
The second and third outs were called third strikes, both of them initially balls before All-Star catcher Realmuto challenged through the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), or so called robot umpires, that will be used in the regular season for the first time this year. CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026 Arrange dough balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Holly Riordan, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2026 Each team received their shipment of logo balls several weeks ago from the Wilson factory so that equipment managers would be able to properly prepare the footballs for their respective offenses. Kristi Scales jan. 5, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026 Place balls 3 inches apart on 3 large baking sheets lined with parchment paper (about 12 cookies per sheet). Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025 Defense overall just balls Two. Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for balls
Noun
  • Other miniature titanium forms—including dolphins, sharks and ladybugs—appear inside transparent spheres embedded throughout the sculptures.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
  • The advent of digital media outlets is transforming the way communication is being conducted in all spheres of life, including science communication.
    Prodromos Yannas, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors brought one count for each of the eight bullets loaded in the gun.
    Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
  • But don’t forget about those pesky micrometeorites—pebble-size rocks that move like hypersonic bullets.
    Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • Between takes, Liu did TikTok dances, trying to summon the right energy.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
  • Venus, planet of relationships, dances into Cancer from May 18 until June 13, which will bring a sensual, tender, and compassionate energy to our lives — and can improve connections with family or encourage us to cozy up at home.
    Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • As Glyph rounds into the homestretch the narrative broadens, a flash of transcendence for the soldier and horse, a ray of hope for Petra and Patch.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
  • Flower Mound, Texas, rounds out the top three.
    Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 21 May 2026
Noun
  • Besides dusting, this includes wiping off the lightbulbs, removing any light globes to wash and dry them, and wiping dust from the fan’s motor and pull chain with a microfiber cloth.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 May 2026
  • The Ebern Designs Rhenn flush mount comes with three milky glass globes that give you plenty of light without blinding you.
    Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
Noun
  • Those who make the quick journey are rewarded by three miles of pristine shoreline covered with shells, including calico scallops, sand dollars, moon snail shells, and lightning whelks.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
  • Launching at the end of the month, the capsule collection will include two styles of sandals embellished with beads and shells and matching necklaces, available to purchase separately.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Year after year, high school proms become more over the top, from elaborate prom-posals to full-on photoshoots.
    Jermont Terry, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • In a memo to the Board of Education last week, King outlined how a nonattendance day would have affected more than 200 schools, including events such AP testing, proms and senior nights.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Corden and Jones have since swapped the BBC for Apple TV with The Choir, which rolls cameras this year and sees them star as brother and sister Ben and Lisa, reunited after Ben returns home from abroad to a quiet English town.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 May 2026
  • Aledo rolls past Amarillo Aledo, the reigning Class 5A Division I state champion, took one step closer toward the first championship repeat in program history.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Balls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/balls. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

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