ball game
noun
variants
or ballgame
plural ball games or ballgames
1
: a game played with a ball
We have to take care of the basketball. If you don't have the basketball it's hard to win a ball game.—
LaToya Bennett, quoted in The Huntsville (Texas) Item
LaToya Bennett, quoted in The Huntsville (Texas) Item… returned a punt for a touchdown in the first half of the football game to help Georgia earn their first points of the ball game.—Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Williams
especially, US
: a baseball game
… Lyons was thrown out trying to steal third to end the ball game … —Mark Starr
Mark Starr 2
informal
a
: a set of circumstances : situation
Driving in Britain is a different ball game.—Robert Lacville
Robert Lacville… once that blaze surged across the river, it would be a whole new ball game.—Jeffrey J. Smith
Jeffrey J. Smith
b
: contest sense 1
… on Mar. 17, the candidates must stagger to high-stakes caucuses in Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Kentucky. The ball game could be over by Mar. 20 …—Business Week
Business WeekExamples of ball game in a Sentence
He was popular because he was good at ball games.
Dad took us to a ball game.
watching a ball game on TV
Recent Examples on the Web
Attention to detail, especially in a certain type of ball game, seems an advantage to the 2025 Padres.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
While some might view the 2024 World Series as a disappointment given how the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the New York Yankees over the course of five ball games, R.J. Cutler would be the first to disagree with that sentiment.
—Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are taking their family out to the ball game.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
Bregman’s last appearance in a ball game this season was on May 23rd after sustaining a right quad strain against the Baltimore Orioles.
—Wayne G. McDonnell, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ball game
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Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
While some might view the 2024 World Series as a disappointment given how the Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the New York Yankees over the course of five ball games, R.J. Cutler would be the first to disagree with that sentiment.
—Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are taking their family out to the ball game.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
Bregman’s last appearance in a ball game this season was on May 23rd after sustaining a right quad strain against the Baltimore Orioles.
—Wayne G. McDonnell, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ball game
Cite this Entry
“Ball game.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball%20game. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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