curveball

Or curve ball

[kurv-bawl]

noun

Baseball.

1. a pitch with a downward spin that causes the ball to drop and veer as it approaches home plate, away from the side from which it was thrown.

   He started perfecting his curveball during his junior year in high school.

Word History and Origins

Origin of curveball¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

Dodger Stadium is where Kershaw first made his big-league debut back in May 2008, as a highly anticipated left-handed prospect with a big curveball and quiet demeanor.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The club’s director of pitching, Rob Hill, was immediately struck by his high-riding heater and mid-80s mph curveball when he first saw Klein pitch in minor-league back-field games during spring training in 2021 and 2022.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And right on cue, in the next half-inning, it was their turn to take advantage, with Alejandro Kirk clobbering a hanging first-pitch curveball from Glasnow to center for a go-ahead three-run homer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He got through it, snapping off a curveball for a strikeout that stranded runners on second and third base.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Later in the series, while prepping the Grand Queen Dowager’s 70th birthday banquet, Chef Yeon must deal with a major menu-planning curveball: the birthday girl has been advised to cut out meat from her diet.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• action 
• gimmick 
• manipulation 
• measure 
• movement 
• plot 
• ploy 
• procedure 
• ruse 
• scheme 
• step 
• stunt 
• trick