jump ball

American

noun

Basketball.

a ball tossed into the air above and between two opposing players by the referee in putting the ball into play.

jump ball British

noun

basketball a ball thrown high by the referee between two opposing players to put it in play, as after a stoppage in which no foul or violation was committed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of jump ball

First recorded in 1920–25

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:

jump ball

He expects all three to be even more aggressive this time around, “given the potential jump ball for assets and routes.”

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

With 35 seconds left and the score tied at 61, Clemson struggled to get a shot off as Davidson forced a jump ball and then Gerda Raulusaityte forced a tie-up of her own.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2026

They did to start the game, Kobe Johnson reaching in to force a jump ball before the first point had been scored.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2025

Why: All polling seems to suggest that this is a complete jump ball of a race.

From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2024

Call time out and bring them to center court for another jump ball.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023