triple-team

verb

tri·​ple-team ˈtri-pəl-ˌtēm How to pronounce triple-team (audio)
triple-teamed; triple-teaming; triple-teams

transitive verb

: to block or guard (an opponent) with three players at one time
triple-team noun

Examples of triple-team 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.
That gave easy outlets to Embiid, who routinely draws double- and triple-teams. Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 His coverage abilities were met by double-teams and triple-teams over that span. Oliver Thomas, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 In a 63-29 loss to Monte Vista, despite often being triple-teamed, Hughes put up 41 shots. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024 Other times, Hardy must fight through extra contact — like Wednesday when Dudley called for a triple-team defense against Hardy during the final scrimmage session. Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 5 July 2023 Nurse earned a reputation as a creative defensive tactician, who often stymied Embiid by throwing double- and triple-teams at him. Dan Gelston, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2023 Ham noted that Davis was often double- and triple-teamed in the post. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2023 That meant not just bombarding him with double- and triple-teams, but also mixing up coverages. Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Apr. 2023 Bowman, who was doubled and sometimes triple-teamed by opponents, filled stat sheets in tough nonconference games with 22 points in a win against Fedrick County champion Tuscarora. Timothy Dashiell, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of triple-team was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near triple-team

Cite this Entry

“Triple-team.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triple-team. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

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!