at bat

noun

plural at bats
baseball
: a turn at batting
had three hits in five at bats

Note: For the purposes of calculating a player's batting average and slugging percentage, an official at bat is charged for each turn at batting except when the player walks, hits a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly, is hit by a pitched ball, or is interfered with by the catcher.

Examples of at bat 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.
And other than Acuna and sometimes Ozuna and Olson, no consistency at bat. David O'Brien, New York Times, 16 June 2025 First Aaron Judge and then Shohei Ohtani homered at their respective first at bats of the game, making history as the first reigning MVPs to hit a home run in the opening inning of the same game. Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 31 May 2025 Since then, the sport itself has changed its approach to gambling, embracing Draft Kings, promoting gambling on the game, even on individual at bats. John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2025 But having too many good players isn’t necessarily a bad problem to have, and in the short term Cora will have an interesting challenge trying to manage everyone’s playing time and ensure his best players get as many at bats as possible. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for at bat

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of at bat was in 1908

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Cite this Entry

“At bat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20bat. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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