basketball

[bas-kit-bawl, bah-skit-] / ˈbæs kɪtˌbɔl, ˈbɑ skɪt- /

NOUN

team sport

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ball

STRONG

hoops

WEAK

B-ball brownball

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.

But it is basketball - not football - that New Yorkers are besotted with right now.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

Police arrested several unruly fans near Madison Square Garden in New York Wednesday night, where basketball fans gathered for Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Spurs and the Knicks, an AFP photographer observed.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Still, Wembanyama had a chance with less than two minutes remaining to help the Spurs’ cause with the easiest shots in basketball: a pair of free-throws.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

I have periodically had the same “problem” with NFL, college football, and college basketball games.

From Slate • Jun. 10, 2026

It was kind of a new thing for Chip to come over and play basketball.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix