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.

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of at bat

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Then came her most important at bat of the season.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 6, 2024

But when the White Sox had their turn at bat, Tim Anderson had different plans.

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

Speedy struck out the first two batters, but then it was Conor’s turn at bat.

From "The Missing Mitt (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #2)" by Franklin W. Dixon