Showing results for "balling"

• present participle of ball.

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. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

balling

"It's all dog, all the time," he said of Roscoe's balling talents.

From Barron's ● May 10, 2026

The firm renamed it Tropicana Brands Group, balling up other beleaguered beverage properties too, and packed it full of debt.

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026

They are local heroes in brilliant yellow who have risen from the brink of bankruptcy to balling like a frost-kissed Brazil.

From BBC ● Mar. 16, 2026

I wasn’t balling out of control, but I had some disposable income and idle time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025

Her eyes fill, and she dabs at them with the kerchief she keeps balling in her hand.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

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