bat 1 of 2

noun

ˈbat How to pronounce bat (audio)
Definition of batnext
1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument a sharp bat with a rolled-up newspaper and that fly was a goner

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2
as in cane
a heavy rigid stick used as a weapon or for punishment riot policemen armed with bats and tear gas

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bat

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to knock
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner batted the lamp off the table with one strike

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2
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly batted the piñata until it finally broke open

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3
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly on Sunday afternoons we'd pile into Father's car and bat around the countryside

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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 bat
Noun
Also, these happen, on average, billions of light-years from us, so the energy is dissipated to far less than that of the beat of a bat’s wing on Earth. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026 So if bigger, more mature bats of breeding age are being targeted by hunters, that could affect flying fox populations overall. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
Verb
Vaibhav steps into the India lineup in place of Ishan Kishan who has a groin injury and will bat at first drop unless India chooses to match him in an all left hand opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Some squandered chances were caused by pressure, inaccuracy and batted throws. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bat
  1. blow
  2. cane
  3. knock
  4. lick
  5. roam
  6. thump
  7. baton
  8. hit
Noun
  • There are really no blows to be given him but defensive ones.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The tragedy deals a fresh blow to Sánchez’ left-wing government, which has already faced corruption scandals, protests over housing affordability and the Ceuta mass migrant crossing earlier this year.
    — Vasco Cotovio, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • By the late 1800s, Thonet had added child-size cane seating and high chairs to its catalog.
    — Steven Weill, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Before he was dragged, Boahene was seen on the train car’s security cameras with a cane and a blue plastic bag, moving unsteadily toward the door after the train stopped at Utica Ave.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of cane
Verb
  • The score came courtesy of center back Casemiro, who tapped the ball to Suarez on the left side of the box before the Uruguayan knocked it into the top right corner.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Luckfield knocked on 12 doors in an hour and a half and had conversations with five people, four of whom opposed both bans.
    — Bram Sable-Smith, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of knock
Verb
  • After contracting the plague, he was banished to a cave, where a dog brought him bread and healed his wounds by licking them.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
  • But the lively crew at the urinals was already licking its lips in anticipation.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • Since his days roaming the fields of Apopka, Barnes has always been able play at the highest of levels.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Todd Spitzer has started charging parents with child endangerment for allowing their kids to roam the streets on potentially lethal machines.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of roam
Noun
  • But the knock on them has been the lack of thump in their lineup.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The brutalist thump of drummer Moe Tucker renders the showmen in Led Zeppelin and the Who irrelevant.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of thump
Noun
  • Queen Sofía is understood never to have loaned pieces from the collection to other family members before, making Leonor’s choice an especially meaningful passing of the sartorial baton.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Outgoing Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi used his final county budget hearing Tuesday to defend his record, tout his accomplishments and call for his replacement to pick up the baton on several unresolved reforms.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of baton
Verb
  • The wreckage of Wednesday's crash reminded many of the aftermath of another train collision in January, when 46 people died in southern Spain when an Iryo train jumped the track and hit an oncoming Renfe train.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The teams combined to hit just four homers, three for Milwaukee.
    — Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of hit

Phrases Containing bat

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bastions
bat
bat (around)
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Cite this Entry

“Bat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bat. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bat

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