match point
Americannoun
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(in tennis, squash, handball, etc.) the point that if won would enable the scorer or the scorer's side to win the match.
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Duplicate Bridge. a scoring unit consisting of one point awarded to a partnership for each opposing partnership whose score they better on a hand and of one-half point for each opposing partnership whose score they equal.
noun
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sport the final point needed to win a match
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bridge the unit used for scoring in tournaments
Etymology
Origin of match point
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.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff came back from 4-1 down in the resulting tie-break and had match point on her serve, before sending a simple forehand into the net tape.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
The twists and turns continued as Muchova received a warning for a time violation at 8-8 on serve - and she immediately fired long to hand Gauff the first match point.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
"I just feel so bad for Coco because she kept fighting, fighting, fighting and finally gets to the match point and then didn't get it," Navratilova said.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
"Honestly, it was such a big fight. It was a rollercoaster - match point and then match point down. You don't have time to think."
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Citra watched, feeling almost detached, as if this were a tennis match and it was match point.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
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.
