free throw lane

noun

: a 12- or 16-foot-wide lane on a basketball court that extends from underneath the goal to a line 15 feet in front of the backboard and that players may not enter during a free throw

Examples of free throw lane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Bradley inbounds from the right side instead of the point guard while his teammates align in a box set – one on each corner of the free throw lane. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2022 Both squads were forced to play physically with a lot of contact allowed by officials (with free throw lane violations and off ball fouls called to make up), which the Nighthawks happily accepted. Alex Harrison, The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of free throw lane was in 1915

Dictionary Entries Near free throw lane

Cite this Entry

“Free throw lane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/free%20throw%20lane. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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