1
a
: having a sudden, forceful, or attention-grabbing effect : punchy
bang-bang headlines
b
: executed or happening so quickly as to make judgment (as by an umpire or referee) difficult
a bang-bang play at first base
2
: characterized by violent or fast-paced action
a bang-bang movie

Examples of bang-bang in a Sentence

the film lacks compelling characters, but it has plenty of bang-bang action
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.
The Dodgers took more good at-bats in the seventh, when another double from Freeman set up Pages for a two-out, two-run single — with Freeman racing home on his battered right ankle to score on a bang-bang slide. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2025 Trying to get home from third can be far different in that there are myriad bang-bang plays that can happen. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025 Haggerty was initially deemed safe on the bang-bang play at second – enraging Boone – but replay review overturned the call and brought the inning to an end. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025 The loud bang-bang seemed to suck all the oxygen out of the three-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot ranch home. Suzette Hackney, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025 The second of two runs was a bang-bang play at the plate between Luisangel Acuña and Henry Davis with Acuña just beating the tag. Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 Murray was trying to remember if he’s ever seen a closer bang-bang finish to a game than Gordon’s. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 29 Apr. 2025 The playoffs are often decided by split-second, bang-bang plays, and this was certainly one that could have easily been called in real time. Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025 First-base umpire Jordan Baker originally ruled Riley out on the bang-bang play, but the Braves challenged, and the call was overturned. Katie Woo, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bang-bang was in 1911

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bang-bang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bang-bang. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!