base on balls
noun phrase
: an advance to first base awarded a baseball player who during a turn at bat takes four pitches that are balls : walk entry 2 sense 6
Examples of base on balls in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the scorebook, a walk is denoted by the letters 'BB,' which stands for base on balls.
—
USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024
Toeing the rubber at Camden Yards for the first time since April 13, 2022, Means allowed the first three batters of the frame to reach base on balls hit softer than 75 mph, a string of bad luck that can often spiral into more misfortune.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2023
The first time was intentional, his major league-leading 16th intentional base on balls this season.
—Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023
De La Cruz's base on balls in the 1st loaded the bases.
—Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 7 June 2023
USA TODAY, 4 Feb. 2024
Toeing the rubber at Camden Yards for the first time since April 13, 2022, Means allowed the first three batters of the frame to reach base on balls hit softer than 75 mph, a string of bad luck that can often spiral into more misfortune.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Sep. 2023
The first time was intentional, his major league-leading 16th intentional base on balls this season.
—Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023
De La Cruz's base on balls in the 1st loaded the bases.
—Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 7 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'base on balls.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1891, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near base on balls
Cite this Entry
“Base on balls.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/base%20on%20balls. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
base on balls
: an advance to first base given to a baseball batter who takes four pitches that are balls
More from Merriam-Webster on base on balls
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about base on balls
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share