baseball
gb/bˈeɪsbˈɔl/ us/bˈeɪsbˈɔl/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Bat-and-ball team sport
A game played by two teams where players hit a ball with a bat and run around four bases to score points.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse baseball with cricket due to similar bat-and-ball elements, but the rules and equipment are very different.
Synonyms
hardball (Informal term for the sport of baseball, mostly used in contrast with softball.)
Antonyms
softball (A similar sport with a larger ball and smaller field, often considered less physically demanding.)
Collocations
play baseball
|baseball game
|baseball player
|baseball season
|baseball field
Themes
sports
|games
|recreation
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He has loved playing baseball since he was a child.
- The baseball season starts in the spring.
- She bought tickets to a professional baseball game.
- Baseball is considered America's pastime.
- They practiced baseball every weekend at the park.
Learner examples
- I play baseball with my friends.
- We watch a baseball game on TV.
- My brother is a baseball player.
- The baseball is on the ground.
- Baseball is fun to play.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Ball used in baseball
The small white ball that players hit in the game of baseball.
Common mistake:
Some learners may confuse 'baseball' (the ball) with 'baseball bat' or 'softball'.
Synonyms
ball (General term; lacks the specific reference to baseball unless in context.)
Collocations
throw a baseball
|catch a baseball
|hit a baseball
Themes
sports
|equipment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He threw the baseball across the yard.
- The coach handed each player a new baseball.
- A signed baseball can be very valuable.
Learner examples
- I have a baseball in my bag.
- The boy throws the baseball to his friend.
- She hits the baseball with the bat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
baseball
IPA
GB/bˈeɪsbˈɔl/
US/bˈeɪsbˈɔl/
Syllables & stress
base - ball (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (base)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: baseball
- Plural: baseball, baseballs
Word family
Forms
baseballs
noun
Related words
baseballer
noun
ballplayer
noun
Expressions
hit it out of the park
1/hˈɪt ˈɪt ˈaʊt əv ðə pˈɑɹk/
idiom
informal
Do something very well
To do something very successfully or impressively.
Examples
- Her presentation really hit it out of the park.
- They hit it out of the park with their latest product launch.
out of left field
1/ˈaʊt əv lˈɛft fˈild/
idiom
informal
Unexpected or unusual
Very surprising or strange.
Examples
- His question came out of left field and surprised everyone.
- That idea is really out of left field, but it might work.
out of left field
1/ˈaʊt əv lˈɛft fˈild/
idiom
informal
unexpected or strange
very unexpected or strange
Examples
- Her question came out of left field.
- The ending felt completely out of left field.
- That job offer was out of left field, but I took it.
play ball
1/plˈeɪ bˈɔl/
idiom
informal
Cooperate or participate willingly
To agree to work together or join in an activity.
Examples
- If you want this project to succeed, you’ll have to play ball with the other team.
- The company refused to play ball with the new regulations.
throw someone a curveball
1/θɹˈoʊ sˈʌmwˌʌn ə kˈɚvəbəl/
idiom
informal
Give unexpected difficulty or challenge
To surprise someone with something difficult or tricky they were not expecting.
Examples
- Life threw me a curveball when I lost my job.
- The teacher threw us a curveball with that last question.
step up to the plate
1/stˈɛp ˈʌp tə ðə plˈeɪt/
idiom
informal
Accept responsibility or challenge
To agree to do something important or difficult when it is needed.
Examples
- It's time for you to step up to the plate and lead the team.
- It’s time for you to step up to the plate and lead the team.
- When the project was in trouble, she stepped up to the plate and fixed it.
- She stepped up to the plate when her colleague was sick.