fastball

noun

fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fastball (audio)
: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed and often appearing to rise slightly as it nears the plate
fastballer noun

Examples of fastball in a Sentence

He struck him out with a fastball.
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.
Strider’s fastball velo was in the 68th percentile in the majors at 95.2 mph before Tuesday. David O'Brien, New York Times, 28 May 2025 The league-average four-seamer is 93.2 mph, but Yarbrough’s fastball actually averaged 87.6 mph — in the bottom-one percentile — entering his start against the Angels on Monday. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025 Thus, while Scott might only require simple adjustments, such as better locating his fastball up and out of the zone and more consistently executing his slider in locations that induce more chase, enacting such changes quickly is paramount. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025 The average velocity of a major league fastball in 2008 was 91.3 mph. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fastball

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fastball was in 1883

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Cite this Entry

“Fastball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fastball. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

fastball

noun
fast·​ball ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯl How to pronounce fastball (audio)
: a baseball pitch thrown at full speed

More from Merriam-Webster on fastball

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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