changeup

noun

change·​up ˈchānj-ˌəp How to pronounce changeup (audio)
: a slow pitch in baseball thrown with the same motion as a fastball in order to deceive the batter

Examples of changeup in a Sentence

The batter struck out on a changeup.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His fastball sat 97 mph in Thursday’s outing, giving him 9 mph separation between that and the changeup. Matt Gelb, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025 Mixing it up Robert Suarez threw four changeups at the start of yesterday’s ninth inning. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025 Ragans paired his changeup, knuckle-curve and slider around the devastating fastball. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025 Luzardo’s velocity is up across the board - his 96.8 mph four-seamer, 96.2 mph sinker, 86.4 mph slider and 88.7 mph changeup average velocities are all career highs. Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for changeup

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of changeup was circa 1943

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Cite this Entry

“Changeup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/changeup. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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