curveball

noun

curve·​ball ˈkərv-ˌbȯl How to pronounce curveball (audio)
: a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usually to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curveball verb

Examples of curveball in a Sentence

The batter struck out on a curveball.
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.
Cease threw his curveball 10% of the time last night, more than in all but two of his previous 10 starts. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2025 Share the logic that led to your curveball approach. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025 His curveball usage went from 14 percent on June 22 to 26 percent on June 28. Will Sammon, New York Times, 11 July 2025 For example, his curveball went from 79.3 mph to 81.2 mph. Will Sammon, New York Times, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for curveball

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curveball was in 1936

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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