inbounds
Americanadjective
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Sports. being within the boundaries of a court or field.
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Basketball. of or relating to passing the ball onto the court from out of bounds.
Etymology
Origin of inbounds
First recorded in 1960–65; adj. use of prepositional phrase in bounds
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.
Ajay Mitchell was fouled after the inbounds pass and made two free throws for a 115-110 lead that stood.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
Green, guarding Leonard, then tipped away the Clippers’ inbounds pass out of a timeout, and Podziemski drove for a three-point play as the visitors hung on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026
The Wolverines tried to steal the inbounds pass, but Stokes sneaked behind the defense and dunked to clinch it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 22, 2025
That’s when Andrew Nembhard threw away the inbounds pass, handing the Celtics yet another chance.
From Seattle Times ● May 21, 2024
They shrugged and waved us both in and checked the ball inbounds.
From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña
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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.