Definition of batsnext

bats

2 of 3

noun

plural of bat

bats

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of bat
1
2
3

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 bats
Noun
Other free-agents-to-be include starter Martín Pérez and reliever Brent Suter, plus bench bats Lane Thomas and Dominic Smith. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026 When Fried gave up a run apiece in the third and fourth innings, the bats responded each time to tie the score. — Stephen Whyno, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 Ohtani scored the Dodgers’ first run after drawing a walk but went hitless in three ensuing at-bats. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 The Braves lineup, even with Harris, Acuna, Olson, Baldwin, Albies, and Riley, had just 18 hits in 124 at-bats. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Burke almost silences Cleveland's bats Burke came on with one out in the third. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026 Health officials are urging residents not to touch bats, including bats that appear sick or dead. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026 Get it at 50 percent off and complete the set with matching bowls featuring the whole Peanuts gang in designs with bats and pumpkins, Snoopy’s doghouse, pirates, Schroeder’s piano, pumpkin patches, cute costumes, and more. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026 Rabid bats and stray cats have also been found in Guilford and Greensboro. — Eva Flowe october 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
Visitors can also follow a small leafy trail to Kelayang Cave, where hanging bats doze after a night of feasting. — Claire Turrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026 Duran started the year hitting third and now bats seventh or eighth, and his hold on everyday playing time might have been saved by Masataka Yoshida’s injury — at least until Roman Anthony’s return. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 New York catcher Alyssa Zettlemoyer worked with Henley, as did Maggie Foxx, who bats fourth for the Los Angeles Queens. — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior first baseman not only starts but also bats cleanup for the Wildcats, who have returned to the state semifinals. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026 With the light nearly gone — the UMass Dartmouth field doesn’t have lights — Callahan silenced the Raiders bats one more time and this eventually led to the decision to pause the game. — Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 10 June 2026 Schmidt, who bats and throws left, led off the bottom of the seventh with a sharp single to right field. — Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026 Inés has been raised in a world of strange ellipses, and hardly bats an eye when the hotel bartender goes quiet after someone mentions his missing brother, but Hanna (Maia Rae Domagala) is a different story. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 14 May 2026 Jordan Woolery, who bats behind her at third in the lineup, has 107 RBIs and was the Big Ten Player of the Year. — ABC News, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats
Adjective
  • At trial, a neurological expert testified that Linton had a seizure in the lead up to the collision, and a psychiatrist said Linton displayed psychotic symptoms weeks after the crash that were consistent with the aftermath of a seizure.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Kratom can produce either stimulating or sedating effects, depending on the dosage taken, and can produce psychotic symptoms, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This gargantuan show is replete with Pollock's greatest hits, the giant, frozen dances of paint splashed on canvas that have become iconic.
    — Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Among the rest of the cast, Bobby Cannavale scores as Arnold Dam, co-owner of the Moon Room, the place where Venus sound-alike Levity Love (Kether Donohue) performs covers of her hits.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • This is because fruit development consumes much of the vine’s energy, so removing the fruit at this point allows the vine’s energy to continue to develop a strong cordon, canes (vertical shoots), and root system.
    — The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Choose 3-6 strong, healthy, outside canes per plant to keep and leave 3-5 buds on each cane.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • After the tempting offer, Pryce knocks on Clark’s door to see the ambitious former player wearing under-eye masks, agreeing to his proposition.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The flash lasts only a fraction of a picosecond, and the beam knocks individual atoms out of place.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That glib self-confidence is present in McNamara, who licks the doughnut glaze off his fingers before offering his hand to the female detective questioning the one living Jason.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Later, a woman protractedly licks blue ice cream from a cone, her attempts thwarted by ferocious gusts of wind and sand.
    — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • When the Farmer destroys the flock’s beloved pumpkin patch, Shaun turns mad scientist to fix the problem, only for events to spiral out of control as a wild beast roams the woods of Mossingham.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Ripper Row — Jack the Ripper roams the streets in search of his next victim.
    — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 8 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • When Blue Cross Blue Shield recently published research suggesting that hospitals use artificial intelligence tools to extract more money from insurers without providing additional care, people were mad.
    — Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Carmella is also still mad at Vicki for saying that Danny is raising her kids, and Heather is angry after learning that Vicki called her fake in Palm Springs.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Ditka and Ryan had an often adversarial relationship, with the two nearly coming to blows during halftime of the team's only 1985 season loss, to the Miami Dolphins.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Even with a human controlling the machine remotely, LaPenna was still trading blows with a heavy metal robot capable of putting real force behind its movements.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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