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fast break

¹ American

noun

Basketball.

a play or method of play that brings the ball from one end of the court to the other quickly, usually by one or two quick passes in an attempt by the offensive team to score before the defensive team can get into position.

fast-break ² American

[fast-breyk, fahst-] / ˈfæstˈbreɪk, ˈfɑst- /

verb (used without object)

Basketball.

fast-broke, fast-broken, fast-breaking

to execute or play in the style of a fast break.

Etymology

Origin of fast break

First recorded in 1945–50

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.

The Gators like to get out in the fast break, but Iowa countered with a snail-paced offense style of any team in the nation this season.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

A Williams steal triggered a fast break ending in a Brown driving layup in which he was fouled.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025

The Lakers had 12 fast break points and 23 assists against the Bucks.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2025

The cornerstones of Booker’s game will now be doing traditional big-man things and using the speed that could make him a menace in the lob game and on the fast break.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 4, 2025

We missed at the other end, and English didn’t push the fast break.

From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023