half volley
noun
(in tennis, racquets, etc.) a stroke in which the ball is hit the moment it bounces from the ground.
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half volley
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half-volley
half-volleyverb (used with or without object)to make or stroke with a half volley.
half volley
1 Americannoun
half-volley
2
American
[haf-vol-ee, hahf-]
/ ˈhæfˌvɒl i, ˈhɑf- /
verb (used with or without object)
half-volleyed,
half-volleying
half volley
British
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of half volley1
First recorded in 1875–80
Origin of half-volley2
First recorded in 1870–75
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.
See Examples For:
Tommy Conway missed a great chance for the Championship hosts when his half volley from Albania midfielder Anis Mehmeti's cross flew wide.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2024
Kerr had a goal disallowed for offside when she thumped in a half volley from the edge of the box before Scotland international Erin Cuthbert struck an effort inches wide.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2022
Kruse got married on Thursday but showed no ill effects from the honeymoon in the 16th minute when he met Grischa Prömel’s layoff with a half volley inside the top left corner.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 18, 2021
Eventually the ball fell to Williams, who fired a 12-yard half volley inside the far post.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 30, 2021
His use of the half volley is unequalled in modern tennis.
From The Art of Lawn Tennis by William (Bill) Tatem Tilden
When Heather Knight was hit on the pad by a leg-stump half-volley from Kim Garth, England were 70-4 in the 11th.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Hato's half-volley from just inside the area whistled into the top corner, earning the teenage defender a thumbs-up from Rosenior.
From Barron's ● Jan. 10, 2026
The goal came from a half-volley inside the box by Brazilian Alemao to make the score 2-1.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2025
For the second she controlled a cross at waist height before swivelling and netting with a half-volley,
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2025
Major A. R. F. Kingscote wins many a point, seemingly lost, by his phenomenal half-volley returns, particularly from the baseline.
From The Art of Lawn Tennis by William (Bill) Tatem Tilden
The striker duly picked the ball out of the sky, gave himself room and half-volleyed the ball past Gordon - courtesy of a deflection off Rowles.
From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2022
He was replaced by Munir, and the change paid off when the Moroccan forward half-volleyed the winner past West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola on the stroke of the hour.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 10, 2022
A half-volleyed blast by Gary Cahill with nine minutes remaining in the 81st minute was a gem, too, and the score looked poised to serve as the decider.
From New York Times ● Mar. 11, 2015
Bradley opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he half-volleyed a cross from Graham Zusi into the net from the back post.
From Reuters ● Apr. 3, 2014
However, they had John Dempster sent off for two yellows and Port Vale substitute Louis Dodds broke the Red Devils' hearts when he half-volleyed home from close range.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 6, 2011
Pulisic got there first, half-volleying it an instant before the heavy collision.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 30, 2022
Against Djokovic last week, Federer added a new twist: He kamikaze-rushed second serves, almost half-volleying them on his way to the net, an ambush tactic that gave the Serb fits.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 28, 2015
Stephen Dobbie, signed on loan from Brighton last month, almost opened his Palace account on the half-hour, half-volleying goalkeeper Jason Steele's clearance narrowly wide from 35 yards.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 16, 2013
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.
