buzzer-beater

noun

buzz·​er-beat·​er

plural buzzer-beaters

basketball

: a shot successfully made just before a buzzer or horn sounds to signal the end of a period

especially : such a shot made to win a game just before the final buzzer or horn sounds

A few weeks later, he had his first buzzer-beater, a game-winning shot as time expired to beat the Knicks.

—Sam Smith, Basketball Digest, January 1994

Washington's Loree Payne had the buzzer-beater, taking an inbound pass with 0.7 seconds left and sinking a 15-footer as the horn blared to give Washington a 67–65 victory over Old Dominion at Gainesville, Fla.

—New York Times, 18 Mar. 2001

buzzer-beating adjective

a buzzer-beating shot

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now