force play

noun

baseball
: a play in which a runner is forced to advance to the next base when the batter puts the ball in play and can be put out if a fielder holding the ball touches the base before the runner reaches it

Examples of force play in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Sierra Canyon brought in sophomore pitcher Milo Benattar, who got a fly out and force play to save a 3-2 victory. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026 However, the club went down in order as Michael Massey grounded into a force play at home and both Caglianone and Isaac Collins struck out. Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026 At that moment Contreras made perhaps the biggest play of the game, eschewing the easy force play on McGonigle at first and making the considerably more challenging throw to second to get the lead runner. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026 Then, on a force play, Contreras slid hard into second, banging into shortstop David Hamilton’s left knee with his cleats and tearing his pants. ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for force play

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of force play was in 1912

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Cite this Entry

“Force play.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/force%20play. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.

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