airball

1 of 2

verb

air·​ball ˈer-ˌbȯl How to pronounce airball (audio)
variants or air-ball
airballed or air-balled; airballing or air-balling; airballs or air-balls

transitive + intransitive

US, basketball
: to completely miss the rim and backboard with a shot : to shoot an air ball
Fesenko … badly airballed a free throw in the first quarter.Ross Siler

air ball

2 of 2

noun

variants or airball
plural air balls or airballs
US, basketball
: a shot that completely misses the rim and backboard

Examples of airball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
Purdue basketball falls on wrong side of history with loss to 16-seed FDU Reaction:Another Purdue March meltdown: 'What an embarrassment' Closing minute Fletcher Loyer airballs a 3 and Purdue fouls. Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2023 Hayward made one free throw and airballed the second, completing the 11-0 run. David Woods, Indianapolis Star, 25 Mar. 2020
Noun
From midfield on the final play of the game, the rookie rolled right and circled back to the left before launching a 65-yard air ball that was tipped off Bears defenders at the goal line and back into the arms of Commanders WR Noah Brown. Touchdown. Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Adebayo opened 1 for 7, including an air ball on a short jumper. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for airball 

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1966, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airball was in 1966

Dictionary Entries Near airball

Cite this Entry

“Airball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airball. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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