Meaning & use
fastball
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Meanings
nouncountablesport
In baseball, a pitch thrown at high speed with very little curve or spin.
Grammar: Countable: a fastball, two fastballs; often used with 'throw' or 'pitch'.
Patterns
- throw a fastball
- pitch a fastball
- a fastball pitcher
The pitcher threw a fastball that reached 100 miles per hour.
He struck out the batter with a high fastball.
Her fastball is her most reliable pitch.
nouncountablefigurativeinformal
A direct, forceful question or remark, especially in politics or business.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'throw someone a fastball' meaning to surprise them with a difficult question.
Patterns
- throw someone a fastball
- a political fastball
The reporter threw the senator a fastball about the budget.
During the interview, they threw him a fastball he wasn't ready for.
Word forms
| plural | fastballs |
|---|
Common combinations
- throw a fastball
- He can throw a fastball over 95 miles per hour.
- hit a fastball
- She hit a fastball into the outfield.
- a fastball pitcher
- The team is looking for a fastball pitcher.
- a fastball down the middle
- He missed a fastball down the middle.
Synonyms and how they differ
- heater
- Heater is informal baseball slang for a fastball; it is less formal and not used in serious sports writing.
- four-seamer
- A four-seamer is a specific type of fastball with a particular grip; it is a technical term used by players and coaches.
Opposites
Word family
- fastballer noun
- A pitcher who mainly throws fastballs.
Commonly confused: fastball or curveball?
fastball vs curveball
A curveball is a pitch that curves as it approaches the batter, while a fastball relies on speed and goes relatively straight.
Practice
The pitcher's ______ was so fast that the batter swung late.
Choose one answer.
A fastball is known for its speed, which fits 'so fast'. A curveball, changeup, or slider are slower pitches that break or change speed.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fastball”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.