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
There haven’t been many opportunities for catcher Miguel Amaya to settle in with regular at-bats this season. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 Lewis ended the night with just a home run in four at-bats, his 13th of the season. Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026 Hours later mobs of his supporters did that, storming the Capitol and using flagpoles, bats, and pipes to attack overwhelmed law enforcement. Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 The civets had probably been infected from horseshoe bats that live in caves in southern China. David J. Hunter, STAT, 7 Aug. 2026 Many scientists believe the evidence suggests that the virus emerged naturally in bats, circulated to other species and spilled over to humans, spreading at a live animal market in Wuhan where the first human cases appeared in late 2019. Joe Walsh, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 His fastball only sits around 92-93, maybe 94 on a good day, but his funky delivery adds deception and misses bats. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026 Beyond both brothers hitting home runs in their second at-bats of the game, there were other striking similarities to the blasts. Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 The bats coming alive late on Saturday were a good sign of that. Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
The Phillies could use another outfielder, preferably one who bats right-handed. Matt Gelb, New York Times, 16 July 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 Altuve bats fifth For the first time in his career, Altuve started a regular-season game batting in the fifth spot in the lineup. Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026 Peralta then was replaced by left-hander Brooks Raley, and Kelly was sent up to hit for Moisés Ballesteros, a rookie who bats from the left side. CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats
Adjective
  • In the book’s arc, this lands as a chilling dismissal, and a reminder of the magnitude of Bret’s increasingly psychotic concern over Robert Mallory and the Trawler, and his detachment from his own life.
    Leo Lasdun, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In people with personal or family history of psychotic disorders, taking psilocybin may increase the risk of psychosis.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Then, in the ninth, Boston strung together three hits and a walk, but Eli White lined out to center field to end the game.
    Curt Anderson, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • George Kirby allowed one run on four hits, but exited after five innings with 99 pitches.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Others are blind or paraplegic, using wheelchairs, walkers or canes, like her.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Victim 2, who is a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue employee according to the New York Times, was repeatedly struck with canes and paddles and bled through his underwear and pants because of lacerations to his buttocks, according to the warrant.
    Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • For residents who didn’t respond to knocks on their doors, their bags were left for safekeeping with Mai Mei Su, the building’s residential manager.
    Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Max knocks on the door, a strange formality for a man about to burn the boat down to the waterline.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Food stands also debuted that year, with ribs sizzling along with the blues licks.
    Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 June 2026
  • At one point in a dinner scene, Shields' Erika licks Joey's fingers.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • North Carolina will be under the microscope as long as Bill Belichick roams the sidelines in Chapel Hill.
    Antonio Morales, New York Times, 5 June 2026
  • Today, the herd roams the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and is managed in partnership with the local fire company, which hosts the annual pony swim—a beloved local tradition.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • There was also a stream of characters who visited the island, from a pop group to a movie producer, a mad scientist, and Russian cosmonauts.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026
  • There are a few pages spent on Deflategate (that made Brady mad), only a few paragraphs devoted to Aaron Hernandez, none on Spygate.
    Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • After the dustups, the offense went from taking blows from the defense to delivering some of its own.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
  • During the less than a minute-long elevator ride, the duo trading blows, according to the video.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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