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• half volley
  half volley

  noun

  (in tennis, racquets, etc.) a stroke in which the ball is hit the moment it bounces from the ground.
• half-volley
  half-volley

  verb (used with or without object)

  to make or stroke with a half volley.

half volley

¹ American  

noun

1. (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 ² American  

[haf-vol-ee, hahf-] / ˈhæfˌvɒl i, ˈhɑf- /

verb (used with or without object)

half-volleyed, half-volleying

1. to make or stroke with a half volley.

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half volley British  

noun

1. a stroke or shot in which the ball is hit immediately after it bounces

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verb

1. to hit or kick (a ball) immediately after it bounces

Other Word Forms

• half-volleyer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of half volley¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Origin of half-volley²

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

His in-swinging cross from the left was perfectly flighted and met by McCann at the back post but, from just a few yards out, his half volley went wide of the far post.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2022

Moments later, the Rangers captain had Alnwick at full stretch to parry away a half volley before Morelos and Arfield passed up chances to add a third.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2021

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

There followed an awkward silence, which Mike broke by remarking that he had carted a half volley from Saunders over the on-side hedge that morning.

From Mike and Psmith by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)