Synonyms

free throw

American

noun

Basketball.

foul shot.

free throw British

noun

basketball an unimpeded shot at the basket from the free-throw line given for a technical fault (one free shot) or a foul (two free shots)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of free throw

First recorded in 1890–95

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.

However, Murray missed his second and third free throws and the Pistons escaped.

From Barron's

Somehow, he played the entire fourth quarter and made five consecutive free throws to help hand Crossroads its first Gold Coast League loss.

From Los Angeles Times

He made a three-pointer while being fouled and made the subsequent free throw.

From Los Angeles Times

Charis Rainey scored 36 points for Windward, including 11 of 12 free throws.

From Los Angeles Times

He added a free throw on Purdue’s next possession before Baker-Mazara’s driving layup pulled the Trojans within one point with one minute left.

From Los Angeles Times

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