air ball
Americannoun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
During the Bruins’ first possession of the game, Rice stepped back from the three-point line, shooting an air ball.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026
The start of the National Basketball Association season Tuesday is set to test whether the NBA rights package will be a slam dunk or an air ball for NBCU.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025
Funk’s streak ended when he put up an air ball on a desperation 3 as the shot clock was running out.
From Washington Times • Mar. 17, 2023
Randle missed a chance to win the game in regulation when his step-back shot from the baseline resulted in an air ball and shot-clock violation with 0.7 seconds left.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2022
I wonder if Mustafa gets nervous before his games, knowing that everyone is watching him and that at any moment he could fall on his face or shoot an air ball.
From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
