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free throw
noun
: an unhindered shot in basketball made from behind a set line and awarded because of a foul by an opponent
Examples of free throw in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kansas also missed three crucial free throws over the final five minutes.
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Lindsay Schnell, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
Monk made both free throws to tie the game and McCollum missed a floater as time expired, sending the game to overtime.
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Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 14 Feb. 2025
Tatum was on the verge of a triple-double by the end of the third quarter (28-11-7) but missed three late free throws that would have padded Boston’s lead.
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Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
His 11 free throws were the most ever by a player in their Warriors debut, while his 13 attempts were second to only Wilt Chamberlain’s 15 in his NBA debut with the Philadelphia Warriors on Oct. 24, 1959.
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Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Feb. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
1891, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Free throw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20throw. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
free throw
noun
: a basketball shot worth one point that must be made from behind a specific line and is given because of a foul by an opponent
More from Merriam-Webster on free throw
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about free throw
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