fastball

noun

fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fastball (audio)
: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed and often appearing to rise slightly as it nears the plate
fastballer noun

Examples of fastball in a Sentence

He struck him out with a fastball.
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.
Mendoza, 20, has an exceptional changeup, developing curve and throws strikes with his low 90s fastball. Chuck Murr, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024 By September, Harrison slashed his fastball usage (47.9%) and upped his slurve usage (30.1%). Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2024 In this Series, Yankees batters struggled to differentiate Yamamoto’s fastball from his diving splitter, and Buehler’s rising heater from his tumbling curve. Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024 Miller consistently tops 100 mph with his fastball which averages higher than any other pitcher at 100.9 mph. Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fastball 

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fastball was in 1883

Dictionary Entries Near fastball

Cite this Entry

“Fastball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fastball. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

fastball

noun
fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fastball (audio)
: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed

More from Merriam-Webster on fastball

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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