balling

American  

[baw-lin] / ˈbɔ lɪn /

Also ballin’,

verb

1. Slang. living a lavish, flashy, or extravagant lifestyle, especially spending freely while partying.

   It’s not fair that he’s out ballin’ in the club while she’s home taking care of their kids.

2. Informal. present participle of ball, in the sense of playing basketball.

   Y’all remember those summers we spent ballin on the court shooting threes?

3. Slang: Vulgar. present participle of ball, in the sense of having sexual intercourse.

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adjective

Slang.

1. lavish, flashy, or extravagant.

   He really doesn’t have the kind of money to keep up this balling lifestyle.

Etymology

Origin of balling

First recorded in 1660–70; ball ² ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ); 1990–95 balling for def. 2, ball ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ); 1960–65 balling for def. 3, ball ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

“I knew people who refused to debate him,” Balling added, recalling the frustrations of some scientists, highly trained in their fields but unpracticed in the political arena, who were called upon to spar with him.

From Washington Post • Jul. 19, 2022

“In Washington, it’s going to be nothing new; it doesn’t mean anything. It’s basically just a continuation of the state of affairs,” Ms. Balling told The Washington Times.

From Washington Times • Jan. 1, 2019

Christine Balling, of the American Foreign Policy Council, predicted that, despite the rhetoric, it will likely be business as usual.

From Washington Times • Jan. 1, 2019

Balling and Isakson could do no better, each shooting 87s to leave the team at 26 over.

From Golf Digest • Sep. 28, 2016

But we soon found out that, brother in the bond, or not, Principal Balling could not get me into high school because I was not well enough prepared.

From Tramping on Life An Autobiographical Narrative by Kemp, Harry