tetherball

noun

teth·​er·​ball ˈte-t͟hər-ˌbȯl How to pronounce tetherball (audio)
: a game played with a ball suspended by a string from an upright pole in which the object is to wrap the string around the pole by striking the ball in a direction opposite to that of one's opponent
also : the ball used in this game

Examples of tetherball in a Sentence

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.
No horses, no bicycles, no gymnastics, no tree climbing, no leaping from barn windows into stacks of hay, no stickball, no tetherball, no relay races. Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025 The living room set was flanked by a piñata and a tetherball with a coffee table and assorted props down in front. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2025 Soccer balls were being kicked, basketballs were being dribbled, tetherballs were being socked. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024 The sheriff’s office said Maximus was later discovered with a rope from a tetherball pole around his neck. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 2 Nov. 2023 The partners also hope to utilize the rest of the property and add shuffleboard, tetherball and other sports. Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 31 Mar. 2023 Eventually, grandma returns, Pedro is elected class president thanks in part to Napoleon's sweet dance moves, Kip and LaFawnDuh get married and ride off together, Uncle Rico breaks his arm and Napoleon goes back to playing tetherball with Deb. Rae Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 26 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tetherball was in 1875

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Cite this Entry

“Tetherball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetherball. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

tetherball

noun
teth·​er·​ball ˈtet͟h-ər-ˌbȯl How to pronounce tetherball (audio)
: a game played with a ball suspended by a string from an upright pole in which the object is to wrap the string around the pole by striking the ball in a direction opposite to that of one's opponent
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