at bat

noun

plural at bats
baseball
: a turn at batting
had three hits in five at bats

Note: For the purposes of calculating a player's batting average and slugging percentage, an official at bat is charged for each turn at batting except when the player walks, hits a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly, is hit by a pitched ball, or is interfered with by the catcher.

Examples of at bat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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After a weekend in which he was getting blown away by every fastball thrown his way, the beleaguered Boston Red Sox slugger turned in probably his best at bat of the season his first time up against Baltimore Orioles starter Cade Povich. Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025 Fresh off Friday’s four-strikeout night, Rafael Devers struck out a fifth straight time in his first at bat and found himself in another hole his next time up. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2025 One of the new features will be a 4-foot by 8-foot mural with a design of a cartoonish bull pitching a ball to a cow at bat. Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025 Ted Williams, April 20, 1939: Teddy Ballgame struck out his first time at bat off future Hall of Famer Red Ruffing at Yankee Stadium. Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for at bat

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of at bat was in 1908

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Cite this Entry

“At bat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20bat. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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