snooker

American  

[snook-er, snoo-ker] / ˈsnʊk ər, ˈsnu kər /

noun

1. a variety of pool played with 15 red balls and 6 balls of colors other than red, in which a player must shoot one of the red balls, each with a point value of 1, into a pocket before shooting at one of the other balls, with point values of from 2 to 7.

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verb (used with object)

snookers, present (3rd person singular) snookered, past participle, past snookering present participle

1. Slang. to deceive, cheat, or dupe.

   to be snookered by a mail order company.

snooker British  

/ ˈsnuːkə /

noun

1. a game played on a billiard table with 15 red balls, six balls of other colours, and a white cue ball. The object is to pot the balls in a certain order

2. a shot in which the cue ball is left in a position such that another ball blocks the object ball. The opponent is then usually forced to play the cue ball off a cushion

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verb

1. to leave (an opponent) in an unfavourable position by playing a snooker

2. to place (someone) in a difficult situation

3. (often passive) to thwart; defeat

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• snookering
  present
• snookered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• snooker
  simple
• snookers
  simple
• have snookered
  perfect
• has snookered
  perfect
• am snookering
  progressive
• are snookering
  progressive
• is snookering
  progressive
• have been snookering
  perfect progressive
• has been snookering
  perfect progressive

Past

• snookered
  simple
• had snookered
  perfect
• was snookering
  progressive
• were snookering
  progressive
• had been snookering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will snooker
  simple
• will have snookered
  perfect
• will be snookering
  progressive
• will have been snookering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of snooker

First recorded in 1885–90; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Barry Hearn is the founder and president of Matchroom Sport, one of the leading promoters across boxing, darts and snooker.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Barry is the founder and president of Matchroom Sport, one of the leading promoters in boxing, darts and snooker, while his son Eddie is chairman of the organisation.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Wu, who uses a translator in his news conferences, shared a bed with his father in a windowless flat in the Steel City as he tried to carve out a career in professional snooker.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

A golden period for snooker - but are UK clubs returning from doldrums?

From BBC • May 1, 2026

But in snooker there are other ways to win points, as Alex knew only too well.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz

Related Words

• choke off
• crimp
• foil
• impede
• obstruct
• stall
• stonewall
• thwart