jump ball
noun
: a method of putting a basketball into play by tossing it into the air between two opponents who jump up and attempt to tap the ball to a teammate
also
: a ball put into play in this manner
Examples of jump ball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The game was knotted with 20 seconds to play, when officials didn’t get a good view on an out-of-bounds call, and therefore ruled a jump ball.
—
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 Apr. 2025
There was that 2022 Storm-Mercury game when after forcing a jump ball, Taurasi and her best friend Sue Bird (in Bird’s final season in the league) stood in the paint bickering at one another about potential fouls.
—Chantel Jennings, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Officials expressed uncertainty after the ball appeared to be last touched by Minnesota, leading them to declare the jump ball.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin race, where Elon Musk is handing out $1 million checks, is a true jump ball.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jump ball
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Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 Apr. 2025
There was that 2022 Storm-Mercury game when after forcing a jump ball, Taurasi and her best friend Sue Bird (in Bird’s final season in the league) stood in the paint bickering at one another about potential fouls.
—Chantel Jennings, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Officials expressed uncertainty after the ball appeared to be last touched by Minnesota, leading them to declare the jump ball.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin race, where Elon Musk is handing out $1 million checks, is a true jump ball.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jump ball
Cite this Entry
“Jump ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jump%20ball. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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