bunt

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbənt 

1

a

: the middle part of a square sail

b

: the part of a furled sail gathered up in a bunch at the center of the yard

2

: the bagging part of a fishing net

bunt

2 of 4

verb

bunted; bunting; bunts

transitive verb

1

: to strike or push with or as if with the head : butt

2

: to push or tap (a baseball) lightly with a bat without swinging

intransitive verb

: to bunt a baseball

bunter noun

bunt

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

: an act or instance of bunting

2

: a bunted ball

bunt

4 of 4

noun (3)

: a destructive covered smut of wheat caused by a fungus (genus Tilletia)

Examples of bunt in a Sentence

Verb

The batter bunted for a single.

He bunted the ball toward third base.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Two pitches before his go-ahead swing — with two on, no outs and the Padres trailing by two — Profar had shown bunt before pulling back on a fastball well outside the strike zone. —Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024

Randle crashed into Cleveland Indians pitcher Milt Wilcox on a bunt after a ball was thrown behind him. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024

Verb

The Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site will be publicly memorializing the passing of President Carter with the use of mourning bunting on the Presidential museum for a 30-day period. —Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Dec. 2024

Aug 20, left fielder and potential team MVP Jurickson Profar showed bunt, hit a decisive home run, then defended his near-decision to bunt. —Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps from Low German, bundle, from Middle Low German; akin to Old English byndel bundle

Verb

alteration of butt

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1584, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

circa 1790, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bunt

• drag bunt
• sac bunt
• sacrifice bunt

Kids Definition

bunt

verb

ˈbənt

1

: to strike or push with the horns or head : butt

2

: to push or tap a baseball lightly without swinging the bat

bunt noun

bunter noun