long ball

noun

Examples of long ball in a Sentence

a pitcher who has given up a lot of long balls
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Game 3 was their most sound, but in ironic fashion, the Rays used the long ball to take home a 4-3 victory and advance to the American League Championship Series. — Ryan Morik Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 The Dodgers scored all 10 runs in the first three games via the long ball, which isn’t necessarily sustainable without traffic on the bases. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 San Diego midfielder Lia Godfrey collected the long ball and slipped it out wide to Corley for the 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026 Alonso threw his bat and shouted toward his teammates in the visiting dugout upon impact — an image Mets fans can instantly recall from his most famous long ball with New York in 2024’s wild-card series. — Will Sammon, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for long ball

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of long ball was in 1938

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Cite this Entry

“Long ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long%20ball. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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