at bat

American  

[at bat] / ˈæt ˈbæt /

adverb

Baseball.

1. taking one's turn to bat in a game.

   And now Sanchez is at bat with two runners in scoring position.

---

noun

Baseball.

1. a player’s turn to bat, officially recorded as such unless the batter walks, is hit by a pitch, makes a sacrifice hit, or is interfered with by the catcher.

   In her debut appearance with the Rockford Peaches, she posted two hits in three at-bats.

at bat Idioms  

1. Taking one's turn. For example, At this conference, with so many interruptions, it's hard to tell which speaker is at bat, or I was nervous while waiting to testify, but once at bat I felt better. This idiom, from baseball, was already being transferred to other enterprises by the 1880s. Also see on deck.

---

Etymology

Origin of at bat

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

“You know, in his first game, in three times at bat, Jackie Robinson didn’t get a hit,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 13, 2025

“I felt good after my first at bat, so I knew I could do it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2024

When the White Sox had their turn at bat, Tim Anderson slammed a two-run homer way out into the corn, winning the game, 9-8.

From NewsForKids.net • Apr. 12, 2024

If they’d hit a home run in their first at bat, the game would be a lot less exciting.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2024

“Nothing’s changed. You’ll still never give away an at bat; you’ll still never concede an out.”

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner