curveball

noun

curve·​ball ˈkərv-ˌbȯl How to pronounce curveball (audio)
: a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usually to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curveball verb

Examples of curveball in a Sentence

The batter struck out on a curveball.
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.
Intense, focused, and taking a deep breath between each pitch, Bird proceeded to strike out Brett Baty looking at an 81.5 mph, 1-2 curveball. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 June 2025 The Rockies never put one of his curveballs in play. Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 26 June 2025 Burns has a fastball that’s reached 100 mph, as well as a slider, curveball and an emerging changeup. C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 22 June 2025 Krasner throws a variety of pitches: a four-seam fastball, a curveball, a slider and two types of change ups. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for curveball

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curveball was in 1936

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!