home run

American  

[hohm ruhn] / ˈhoʊm ˈrʌn /

noun

home runs plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• home runs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of home run

An Americanism first recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

home run

In the All-Star Game, the players were hitless and the pitcher served up the only home run.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

Razavi’s home run has elevated her and Spark’s reputation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

Max Muncy crushes a two-run home run and Roki Sasaki showcases his velocity in the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

“It’s Trey’s day,” Dino said, reminiscing on his youngest son’s Little League days, his home run derby victory in Williamsport, Pa., his growth through travel ball and high school.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

During one such game, Babe Ruth hit what has been purported to be his longest home run ever, 620 feet, over the prison wall.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• center
• dead center
• omphalos