basketball

[ bas-kit-bawl, bah-skit- ]

/ ˈbæs kɪtˌbɔl, ˈbɑ skɪt- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR basketball ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a game played by two teams of usually five players each on a rectangular court having a raised basket or goal at each end, points being scored by tossing the ball through the opponent's basket.

the round, inflated ball, approximately 30 inches (76 cm) in circumference, used in this game.

QUIZZES

"EVERYDAY" VS. "EVERY DAY" QUIZ: IS IT ONE WORD OR TWO?

An everyday activity is one you do every day. (Thanks, English.) Practice using "everyday," one word, and "every day," two words, in this fun quiz with … everyday example sentences!

Question 1 of 16

“Everyday" is an adjective that describes things that happen habitually or items that are normal items or events.

True

False

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of basketball

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; basket + ball¹

OTHER WORDS FROM basketball

pro·bas·ket·ball, adjective

Words nearby basketball

basket star, basket weave, basket-handle arch, basket-of-gold, basket-star, basketball, basketful, basketry, basketweaver, basketwork, baskin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for basketball

Soccer in the rest of the world is what we know as basketball.
Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity|William O’Connor|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was around noon that Brinsley chucked the phone behind a radiator at the basketball stadium and went off the grid.
Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish|M.L. Nestel|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The Bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham|P. J. O’Rourke|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The basketball game was the final engagement on a seriously busy day for the young royals.
When Your Royalty Met Ours: Kate Meets Bey Courtside|Tom Sykes|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Hannigan pretended to be a basketball pro in order to impress a hot guy she had a crush on—only she had never played basketball.
‘My Crazy Love’ Reveals the Craziest Lies People Tell for Love|Kevin Fallon|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Attention, fellow citizens and basketball artists," she called.
Grace Harlowe's Sophomore Year at High School|Jessie Graham Flower
Now, remember to treat that ankle well if you want to appear again in the basketball arena.
Grace Harlowe's Sophomore Year at High School|Jessie Graham Flower
I wanted her to like every bit of our school life and thought she'd surely be interested in basketball.
Grace Harlowe's Junior Year at High School|Jessie Graham Flower
We might as well admit that these Keyport girls are better at basketball than we are, said her twin.
The Girls of Central High at Basketball|Gertrude W. Morrison
The basketball news appeared and there was the report of the Barn Swifts Extravaganza.
Jane Allen: Center|Edith Bancroft

British Dictionary definitions for basketball

basketball

/ (ˈbɑːskɪtˌbɔːl) /

noun

a game played by two opposing teams of five men (or six women) each, usually on an indoor court. Points are scored by throwing the ball through an elevated horizontal metal hoop

the inflated ball used in this game

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

basketball

noun

QUIZZES

"EVERYDAY" VS. "EVERY DAY" QUIZ: IS IT ONE WORD OR TWO?

Origin of basketball

OTHER WORDS FROM basketball

Words nearby basketball

Words related to basketball

Example sentences from the Web for basketball

British Dictionary definitions for basketball

noun