ball 1 of 3

Definition of ballnext
1
as in sphere
a more or less round body or mass the little rubber ball used in racquetball a ball of string

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2
as in bullet
a usually round or cone-shaped little piece of lead made to be fired from a firearm found a cache of musket balls while excavating the old fort

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ball

2 of 3

noun (2)

ball

3 of 3

verb

as in to round
to form into a round compact mass balled up the paper and threw it at the garbage can

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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 ball
Noun
Needing one more stop, TCU forced another turnover by Haggerty as David Punch cut him off on the sidelines, forcing Haggerty to lose possession of the ball. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026 How to play the Powerball To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Its traditional, comfortable aesthetic matches mine perfectly, though as someone who’s forever balling on a budget, the prices make their products just out of reach. Quincy Bulin, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026 Trump's pin features a cartoon version of himself with his mouth open, brows furrowed and fists balled at his sides. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ball
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ball
Verb
  • Blue Raspberry rounds out the flavor options and delivers 5 grams of micronized creatine that’s proven to increase strength, support muscle growth and improve workout endurance.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Michigan, Ohio State, Louisville and Oklahoma round out the top 10 this week.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • But the movie’s artful direction, nimble structure, visual richness and impeccable performances make for something full-bodied, compelling and deeply affecting, its melancholy beauty lingering long after the end credits roll.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
  • That rolling emergency declaration enabled more than $573 million to be spent on immigration enforcement from the account since 2023, including $405 million in just the past six months tied to pop-up detention centers, private jet costs and restaurant bills.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ball. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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