home run

American  

[hohm ruhn] / ˈhoʊm ˈrʌn /

noun

1. Also called homer.  Baseball. a hit that enables a batter, without the aid of a fielding error, to score a run by making a nonstop circuit of the bases. h.r., hr, HR

2. a complete or unqualified success.

   trying to hit a home run at the box office.

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home run British  

noun

1. baseball a hit that enables the batter to run round all four bases, usually by hitting the ball out of the playing area

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home run Idioms  

1. A highly successful achievement; also, doubling one's profits. For example, We scored a home run with that drug stock, buying it at 15 and selling at 30. This expression originated in the mid-1800s in baseball, where it refers to a pitched ball batted so far that the batter can round all three bases and reach home plate, scoring a run. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s.

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Etymology

Origin of home run

An Americanism first recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Newbury Park 8, Agoura 2: Carson Richter had a three-run home run and Jack Laubacher added a solo home run to power the Panthers.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Corona 9, Corona Centennial 3: Anthony Murphy hit two home runs and Tyler Ebel added another home run for Corona.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

West Ranch 4, Valencia 2: A three-run rally in the seventh included a home run from Connor Clayton.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Orange Lutheran 8, JSerra 3: Eric Zdunek had a home run, two singles and three RBIs and Ricardo Hurtado also homered for the No. 1-ranked Lancers.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

I’ve never led off a game with an over-the-fence home run, and I’ve never hit an opposite-field, over-the-fence home run...until now.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

Related Words

• center
• dead center
• omphalos