triple-team

verb

tri·​ple-team ˈtri-pəl-ˌtēm How to pronounce triple-team (audio)
triple-teamed; triple-teaming; triple-teams

transitive verb

: to block or guard (an opponent) with three players at one time
triple-team noun

Examples of triple-team in a Sentence

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.
If teams are going to send double- and triple-teams his way, he is talented enough as a passer to pick them apart. Eric Nehm, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024 That gave easy outlets to Embiid, who routinely draws double- and triple-teams. Bryan Toporek, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024 His coverage abilities were met by double-teams and triple-teams over that span. Oliver Thomas, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 In a 63-29 loss to Monte Vista, despite often being triple-teamed, Hughes put up 41 shots. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2024 Other times, Hardy must fight through extra contact — like Wednesday when Dudley called for a triple-team defense against Hardy during the final scrimmage session. Callie Caplan, Dallas News, 5 July 2023 Nurse earned a reputation as a creative defensive tactician, who often stymied Embiid by throwing double- and triple-teams at him. Dan Gelston, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2023 Ham noted that Davis was often double- and triple-teamed in the post. Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2023 That meant not just bombarding him with double- and triple-teams, but also mixing up coverages. Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of triple-team was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near triple-team

Cite this Entry

“Triple-team.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triple-team. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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