: being slower than usual or expected
throwing off-speed pitches

Examples of off-speed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There was a time when Buehler wouldn’t have even considered throwing an off-speed pitch in that situation. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 In 12 starts from March 30 to June 7, Yamamoto was 8-4 with a 2.41 ERA, averaging more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings with a mid-90s fastball and off-speed combination of curveballs, sliders and splitters. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024 He was selected to the Midsummer Classic again this season after a torrid performance in March and April (.362 batting average, 13 extra-base hits, 23 RBIs) that Bates credited to his ability to attack off-speed pitches. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024 Snell was one behind and similarly rode his best off-speed offering — the curveball — to swing-and-misses. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for off-speed 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'off-speed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-speed was in 1951

Dictionary Entries Near off-speed

Cite this Entry

“Off-speed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-speed. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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