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ball

ball

∞ 1.0
A round object used in games like football or tennis
  • noun
  • /bɔl/
: pelota
  • During the game, he expertly caught the ball while running.
  • throw the ball
  • kick the ball
  • hit the ball

You know, it was a great ball from Milner.

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Examples

  • In my first two at-bats, I hit the ball hard and far, making two home runs.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Second base and shortstop, be ready to throw the ball home.

  • Getting this little ball into this cup.

  • Well, can you throw a ball? - Not at all.

  • OK, so watch what happened if I spin the ball right?

  • The count is two balls, one strike.

  • When the music stops, the student with the ball begins passing the ball around the circle.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Give me the ball.

  • Our company just did a deal to donate a million soccer balls made out of disaster relief packaging to kids in the Sudan, so we do the logistics.

  • The children kicked the ball back and forth in the park.

Synonyms

football
vsball
136 1.0

A ball that is round in soccer or oval in American football

is the general concept for round sports objects despite shape differences
baseball
vsball
74 1.0

A small hard ball with a leather cover used in the sport played with bats and bases

is a general term for round sporting objects beyond this specific use
basketball
vsball
50 1.0

A round ball you pump up and use in the game with a hoop

is the broad name for round items used in various games
golf ball
vsball
45 1.0

A small hard round thing with dimples that players hit in the game of golf

is the broad term for round sporting objects not specific to golf use
bowling ball
vsball
35 1.8

A large heavy ball with three finger holes used to knock down pins

is the general term for round sporting objects beyond this heavy type
tennis ball
vsball
28 1.0

A small yellow or white ball covered with felt used to play tennis

describes the broad class of round objects used in many games
soccer ball
vsball
  • US
18 1.0

A round inflated object that players kick with their feet to play soccer

covers round game objects used in many different sports and games
beach ball
vsball
16 1.0

A large light ball filled with air for play on the beach or in a pool

is the general term for round play or sports objects across contexts
16 1.0

A small, light, hollow plastic ball used in table tennis

is the general category name for round play objects beyond this tiny form
volleyball
vsball
7 1.0

A round ball filled with air used in the game played over a high net

means a general round object used for hitting, throwing, or kicking
billiard ball
vsball
6 2.9

A hard round ball used to play billiards on a table

is the general name for round game objects beyond cue sport roles
medicine ball
vsball
3 3.1

A heavy leather ball you throw or lift to build strength and coordination

is the wider label for round objects used in games rather than training
pool ball
vsball
2 2.7

A small round object that players hit in pool, usually numbered and colored

is the general label for round items used in many different sports
bocce ball
vsball
2 5.3

A heavy ball in the Italian game of bocce that players roll to get close to the small target ball

is the broad term for round game objects beyond this specific play
handball
vsball
1 1.6

A small rubber ball used to play the sport

is the general label for round play objects not tied to one sport
beachball
vsball
1 1.0

A large lightweight plastic ball used for fun at the beach or pool

is the broad name for round game objects beyond inflatable novelty types
dodgeball
vsball
1 2.0

A soft, light ball thrown by players to try to hit others

is the neutral name for round sports objects regardless of game rules
squash ball
vsball
1 2.7

A small rubber ball used in a fast game played in a court with four walls

is the neutral term for round sporting objects across various games
kickball
vsball
  • US
1 2.0

A large rubber ball children kick in playground games

refers to round game objects used for throwing, hitting, or kicking
racquetball
vsball
  • US
1 3.2

A small hollow rubber ball used to play an indoor racket sport

is a general label for round play objects beyond indoor racket sports
object ball
vsball
  • Specialized
1 7.8

The ball the cue ball is meant to hit first

is the broad term covering such round pieces across many games
playground ball
vsball
  • US
1 1.4

A large rubber ball used for playground games like four square or kickball

is the general term for round game objects used across sports
lacrosse ball
vsball
1 3.0

A small rubber ball used to play lacrosse

is the general name for round items used across different sports
1 2.9

A small hard round object that players hit in field hockey

is a broader term covering such game pieces not limited to one sport
polo ball
vsball
1 3.4

A small wooden ball that players hit with a long stick in the sport of polo

is the broad name for round sporting objects not tied to this activity
gateball
vsball
8.8

A small hard ball used in a game where players hit it with a mallet

is the general term for round items used in many outdoor games

Idioms

to drop the ball
  • Informal
38 6.1

Fail to do something you are responsible for

to have a ball
  • Informal
35 6.5

Enjoy yourself a lot

on the ball
  • Informal
18 5.6

Quick to notice and understand things

It is now someone's turn to act or decide

4 6.3

To notice things quickly and act to fix them

4 7.1

All the parts and activities of a project or situation

4 9.6

In a difficult situation with little chance to make things better

ball of fire
  • Informal
3 5.4

A person who is very energetic and enthusiastic

Stop paying attention to what is important

1 7.7

To be alert and ready to act

1 9.3

A person who is not smart and is slow to understand things

To let someone else decide what to do next

1 7.2

Having no hair on the head

Pay attention to the main goal and avoid distractions

to catch no ball
  • Informal
9.9

To not understand anything in a talk or explanation

To focus on the issue, not on the person

Leave a game or group angrily because you did not get your way

Delay acting until an important event happens

Compounds

80 1.0

A game played with a ball, like baseball or football

45 1.0

A small hard round thing with dimples that players hit in the game of golf

35 1.8

A large heavy ball with three finger holes used to knock down pins

28 1.0

A small yellow or white ball covered with felt used to play tennis

19 4.4

A black ball with the number 8 that must be pocketed last in some pool games

18 1.0

A round inflated object that players kick with their feet to play soccer

16 1.0

A large light ball filled with air for play on the beach or in a pool

A small, light, hollow plastic ball used in table tennis

fly ball
  • Specialized
15 3.1

A ball hit high into the air in baseball

15 6.9

A glass sphere fortune-tellers look into to see the future

13 2.8

A ball in baseball hit outside the marked lines that is not in play

ground ball
  • Jargon
12 3.4

In baseball, a ball hit so it rolls or bounces on the ground

12 3.4

A white ball a player hits with a cue to move other balls

curve ball
  • Specialized
11 5.0

A baseball throw with spin that curves as it reaches the batter

10 3.5

A long formal dress worn by women to very special events like balls

9 1.9

A place where people play baseball

9 5.9

A soft dumpling made from matzo meal, eggs, and fat, served in soup at Passover

7 2.5

A professional baseball team that plays and travels together

A hard round ball used to play billiards on a table

breaking ball
  • Jargon
6 6.2

A pitch that curves as it moves toward the batter because the pitcher throws it with spin

5 3.2

A hollow plastic ball with holes used for a simple bat and ball game

5 2.8

A boy who picks up and gives balls to players during a tennis match

5 4.8

A formal party where guests wear masks and costumes to hide who they are

ball-peen hammer
  • Specialized
4 6.3

A hammer with one flat face and one rounded end used to shape metal and drive rivets

ball hog
  • Offensive
4 7.7

A player who keeps the ball and rarely passes to teammates

4 8.9

A job or task that is hard and makes you very tired

4 5.2

A game at an arcade where you roll balls up a ramp into holes for points

4 1.4

A small round piece of chewing gum with a hard colored sugar coating often sold in vending machines

A heavy leather ball you throw or lift to build strength and coordination

jump ball
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A basketball way where the referee tosses the ball between two players who jump to tap it to a teammate

ball bearing
  • Specialized
3 3.4

A device with small metal balls that helps machine parts move with less rubbing

3 1.0

A round mass of yarn made for knitting or crocheting

3 2.7

A round sweet made from popcorn held together with sticky sugar

musket ball
  • Archaic
2 8.6

A small round piece of lead that a musket fires

2 2.8

A player in football or rugby who holds the ball and tries to move forward to score

2 2.7

A small round object that players hit in pool, usually numbered and colored

cannon ball
  • Archaic
2 4.1

A heavy round metal ball fired from a cannon in the past

2 1.9

A small round piece of melon made with a scoop

2 5.3

A heavy ball in the Italian game of bocce that players roll to get close to the small target ball

passed ball
  • Jargon
2 7.0

A pitch the catcher misses that lets a runner advance to the next base

fair ball
  • Specialized
2 3.9

A ball hit by the batter that lands between the foul lines and is in play

masked ball
  • Formal
2 4.3

A formal party where people wear masks and fancy costumes

ball and chain
  • Archaic
2 6.9

A heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner's leg by a chain

2 5.0

A wooden ball used to play croquet

1 9.9

A woman who is very strict and makes others feel afraid or unhappy

1 1.2

An oval ball filled with air that people use to play rugby

ball-and-socket joint
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A joint where a round bone end fits into a cup, allowing movement in many directions

hero ball
  • Jargon
1 7.7

A player who tries to win alone in important moments instead of trusting teammates

no ball
  • UK
1 7.0

A ball bowled against the rules that gives the batting team a free hit on the next ball

1 2.7

A small rubber ball used in a fast game played in a court with four walls

dirt ball
  • Offensive
1 8.7

A person who is very unpleasant and treats others badly

1 2.5

A hard round ball players use in cricket, made of cork and leather

1 7.0

A formal party where people wear costumes and masks and dance

1 2.3

Shaped like a ball or nearly round

A bag filled with air that hangs for boxing practice

ball valve
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A device that controls the flow of water or gas using a round ball inside

time-ball
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A ball that drops from a pole at a set time to show the exact time

1 7.7

A wooden ball for the game bocce that players roll toward a small target ball

ball hawk
  • Slang
1 7.0

A player who often steals or catches the ball from the other team to help their team

ball cock
  • Specialized
1 7.0

A valve with a floating ball that controls the water level in a toilet tank

A small hard ball that spins around a roulette wheel to pick the winning number

object ball
  • Specialized
1 7.8

The ball the cue ball is meant to hit first

1 6.5

A hard ball people use in the Italian game bocce to roll toward a small target

1 3.4

A small metal ball with holes that holds loose tea leaves while brewing

1 1.4

A large rubber ball used for playground games like four square or kickball

A small rubber ball used to play lacrosse

ball hawking
  • Jargon
1 7.3

Skill in catching the ball from opponents during a game, especially in football or basketball

ball-hawking
  • Jargon
1 8.4

Good at taking the ball from opponents in games like football or baseball

rifle ball
  • Archaic
1 7.9

A piece of metal fired from a rifle, originally round but later long

1 2.6

A small round piece of fish cooked and eaten as a snack or in soup

A small hard round object that players hit in field hockey

1 8.1

A small white ball that keeps moths away from stored clothes

ball cartridge
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A small metal case that contains a bullet and enough powder to fire it

How Big

football
136 1.0
ball
∞ 1.0
baseball
74 1.0
tennis ball
28 1.0
marble
30 1.0

Surface Forms

ball singular
balls plural

Etymology

Ball The word ball comes from an old German word meaning 'round thing', so imagine a small round object you can throw or kick, which is why ball means the round object used in games.