ball up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His advice to Contreras for whenever the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge came to the plate was simply to keep the ball up and away, then pound him hard inside.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

He hit superb lines, either hitting the ball up bravely into the heart of Wales defence or acting as a decoy, and worked instinctively with Northampton team-mate Fraser Dingwall inside him at 12.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

The Lakers coughed the ball up 21 times against the Pistons the other night.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026

“She was heating up the ball, getting steals in our press, bringing the ball up, getting to the basket,” said sophomore Kennedy Smith, who had 13 points Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2025

Grandma would put her hand around my fist, which I would ball up tight.

From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals