force play

American  

[fawrs play] / ˈfɔrs ˌpleɪ /

noun

Baseball.

1. a defensive play in which the fielder holding the ball can make a putout by stepping on, or otherwise touching, the base that a runner is heading toward, having been forced to advance to that base because of a batter’s base hit.

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Etymology

Origin of force play

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

force play

The Dodgers had to settle for the force play, and Snell had to make an extra seven pitches to get out of the inning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2025

Shortstop Anthony Volpe threw low-and-away to third on an attempted force play, allowing the Dodgers to load the bases.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 13, 2024

In the fourth, Matt Olson was initially called out on a force play at second.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 8, 2023

Crawford to set up a force play on the base.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 27, 2023

These semi-conscious centres of force play a great part at séances, and are mostly the agents who are active in producing physical phenomena.

From Death—and After? by Annie Wood Besant

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