Baseball
Baseball
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "baseball" is /ˈbeɪs.bɔːl/.
First Syllable: /beɪs/
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/eɪ/ - diphthong (as in "day")
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
Second Syllable: /bɔːl/
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/ɔː/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "bought")
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: baseball
Plural Noun: baseballs
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A bat-and-ball game played between two teams of nine players each, who take turns batting and fielding. The objective is to score runs by hitting a pitched ball and advancing around a series of four bases.
Synonyms: hardball, America's pastime (informal)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concept-specific)
Definition 2: The hard, stitched ball used in the game of baseball, typically cork-centered and covered with two strips of white leather.
Synonyms: ball, horsehide (informal)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concept-specific)
Definition 3: The sport or institution of the game itself, often referring to professional leagues, teams, or the cultural phenomenon surrounding it.
Synonyms: the national pastime, the game
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concept-specific)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He looked up at the moon, which was the color of a baseball, high and full and white." (Stephen King, The Shining, 1977)
"Jackie Robinson's courage in breaking the color barrier in baseball forever changed the landscape of American sports and civil rights." (Doris Kearns Goodwin, Wait Till Next Year, 1997)
Newspapers:
"The Boston Red Sox clinched a dramatic victory last night, extending their lead in the American League baseball standings." (The New York Times)
"Little League baseball teams across the county are preparing for their championship tournaments this weekend, a testament to grassroots community engagement." (Local Daily Herald)
Online Publications:
"Major League Baseball announced new rule changes aimed at speeding up the pace of play for the upcoming season." (ESPN.com, February 15, 2025)
"Beyond the Diamond: How Data Analytics is Revolutionizing Youth Baseball Development." (The Athletic, May 10, 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "If you build it, he will come." - A classic line from the movie Field of Dreams, which centers around the magic of baseball. (Universal Pictures, 1989)
Television Series: "The character wore a vintage baseball cap, a subtle nod to his love for classic Americana." (Stranger Things, Netflix, Season 3, Episode 4, 2019)
Video Game: "In MLB The Show 25, players can step into the cleats of their favorite baseball stars and experience the thrill of the game." (PlayStation Studios, 2025)
Music (Lyrics): "Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don't care if I ever get back. For it's root, root, root for the home team, if they don't win it's a shame. For it's one, two, three strikes you're out, at the old ball game." ("Take Me Out to the Ball Game," written by Jack Norworth, 1908 - frequently played at baseball games)
Podcast: "On today's episode, we break down the latest trade rumors circulating in the world of professional baseball." (Foul Territory Podcast)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you catch the baseball game last night? What a finish!" (Overheard conversation at a coffee shop)
"My son just started playing T-ball, and he's completely obsessed with baseball." (Parent speaking to another parent at a park)
"He's as American as apple pie and baseball." (Common idiom describing something quintessentially American)
10 Famous Quotes Using Baseball
"How can you not be romantic about baseball?" (Billy Beane, as portrayed in Moneyball, 2003 film)
"There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball." (Roberto Clemente)
"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, and baseball." (Attributed to Frank Robinson, though exact phrasing varies)
"Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is." (Bob Feller)
"A hot dog at the ballpark is better than steak at the Ritz." (Humphrey Bogart) - Metaphorical/Synonymous, as "ballpark" directly implies baseball.
"Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games." (Babe Ruth)
"You could be a kid again, just for a little while, out on a baseball field." (W.P. Kinsella, Shoeless Joe, 1982)
"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical." (Yogi Berra)
"The most important thing in baseball is to have a good time." (Rogers Hornsby)
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." (Rogers Hornsby)
Etymology
The word "baseball" itself is quite straightforward in its origin, literally combining "base" and "ball."
The "ball" part refers to the round object used in the game, and its roots go way back to around the 12th century, simply meaning a "rounded missile" or a "ball used in a game."
The "base" part comes from the idea of a starting or finishing point, or a "safe spot" in a game. This sense of "base" has been around since the 15th century, used in tag-like games where you'd run to a "base" to be safe.
So, when you put them together, "baseball" describes a game played with a ball where players run between bases.
The first known use of the actual word "baseball" in print dates back to 1744. It appeared in a British children's book called A Little Pretty Pocket-Book by John Newbery. This early mention described a game that had a ball and bases, and while it wasn't exactly the same as modern baseball (for example, they might have hit the ball with their hand instead of a bat), it clearly laid the groundwork for the game we know today.
Essentially, "baseball" isn't a word with a deep, mysterious origin. It's a clear and descriptive name for a game that evolved from earlier bat-and-ball games, primarily in England, and then took on its modern form in the United States.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Baseball
Play hardball: To act tough and aggressively, especially in negotiations or competition.
Touch base: To briefly make contact with someone, often to update or check in.
Out of left field: Unexpected, unusual, or strange.
Cover all the bases: To consider and prepare for every possibility.
Go to bat for someone: To support or defend someone.
Have two strikes against you: To be in a difficult or disadvantageous situation.
Pinch-hit for someone: To act as a substitute for someone in a difficult situation.
Throw a curveball: To present an unexpected and difficult problem or challenge.
Strike out: To fail completely at something.
Step up to the plate: To take responsibility or initiative in a challenging situation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Baseball from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
