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

Balling out on “Monday Night Football,” even the preseason edition, can go a long way toward changing that.

From Washington Times • Aug. 22, 2023

“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

“Frankly, I don’t think Maduro would care one way or the other if we withdrew our diplomats,” Ms. Balling said.

From Washington Times • Jan. 1, 2019

Although Balling, from Cody, is a rookie in the event, this is the fifth time that Isakson, from Sheridan, has represented Wyoming.

From Golf Digest • Sep. 28, 2016

Principal Balling had me come to see him.

From Tramping on Life An Autobiographical Narrative by Kemp, Harry