curveball
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of curveball
An Americanism dating back to 1875–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Not wanting to overload Soriano, the Angels had him focus on his sinker and curveball, his two best pitches.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026
Opposing batters knew that almost everything Soriano threw would be down in the zone, whether it was a sinker, splitter or curveball.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026
Then left-hander Brennan Bernardino came on in relief and tied up a clearly frustrated Max Muncy with a curveball, striking him out and ending a scoreless inning with Freeman stranded on third.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026
Fans of former baseball star Ichiro Suzuki were thrown a curveball when a statue of him broke as it was being unveiled outside the home of the Seattle Mariners on Friday.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
His eyes squint; he’s probably nervous about the curveball I’m throwing his way.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
