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
ˈfas(t)-ˌbȯ-lər How to pronounce fastball (audio)
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.
Rengifo then hit a 1-0 fastball from Kyle Harrison (9-3) into the seats in left field for a 5-0 lead. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 The lefty featured one of his more diverse mixes of the season, still leaning on his changeup (37) and four-seam fastball (29) but mixing in plenty of sliders (16) and sinkers (14). — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 Tarik Skubal never located his best stuff Monday, missing the strike zone with his fastball far more frequently than usual. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Spiezio then turned on a fastball and deposited it into the right-field seats. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing fastball

Rhymes for fastball

See All Rhymes for fastball

Browse Nearby Words

fastback
fastball
fastballer
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Cite this Entry

“Fastball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fastball. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fastball

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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