basketball front court

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The half of a basketball court that contains the basket a team is attacking.

   Grammar: Usually singular with 'the': a team pushes the ball into the front court.

   Patterns

   • in the front court
   • into the front court
   • get the ball into the front court

   The guard dribbled the ball into the front court and called a play.

   Once the ball crosses the halfway line, the team is in its front court.

2. 2nounsingular

   The group of players on a team who play nearest the basket, usually the forwards and the center.

   Grammar: Treated as a single unit, like 'the front office': the team's front court scored most of the points.

   Patterns

   • the team's front court
   • a strong front court
   • start in the front court

   Their front court is tall and blocks a lot of shots.

   The coach rebuilt the front court by signing two new forwards.

Word forms

Common combinations

push the ball into the front court

They pushed the ball into the front court before the defense could set up.

front court player

A front court player spends most of the game close to the basket.

dominate the front court

The champions dominated the front court with their size and strength.

front court offense

Their front court offense relies on passes to the center.

Synonyms and how they differ

offensive half

A general description of the same area; 'front court' is the standard basketball term.

paint

Only the shaded area right under the basket, much smaller than the whole front court.

Opposites

Word family

back court noun

The other half of the court, where a team defends its own basket.

Commonly confused: basketball front court or back court?

Practice

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