pinch-hit

1 of 2

verb

ˈpinch-ˈhit How to pronounce pinch-hit (audio)
ˌpinch-
pinch-hit; pinch-hitting; pinch-hits

intransitive verb

1
: to act or serve in place of another
2
: to bat in the place of another player especially when a hit is particularly needed

pinch hit

2 of 2

noun

: a hit made by a pinch hitter

Examples of pinch-hit in a Sentence

Verb assigned to pinch-hit as a math teacher for the remainder of the semester
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Morse was battling an oblique injury that reduced him to pinch-hitting duties and Neshek had held right-handed hitters to a .176 average with two home runs all season. Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024 Noel, perhaps the most anonymous of Cleveland’s unsung personnel, stepped up to pinch-hit. Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
Luken Baker tied the score in the seventh inning with a pinch hit, two-run homer in his first at-bat in the major leagues this season. Katie Woo, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024 Of course, things come up and team members need to pinch hit for each other. Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pinch-hit 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from pinch hitter

First Known Use

Verb

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinch-hit was in 1911

Dictionary Entries Near pinch-hit

Cite this Entry

“Pinch-hit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinch-hit. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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