Meaning & use
volleyball
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablesport
A team sport in which players hit a ball over a high net with their hands and try to make it land on the other side.
Grammar: Uncountable and takes no article: they play volleyball.
Patterns
- play volleyball
- a volleyball match
We play volleyball on the beach every Sunday.
She joined the school volleyball team.
Volleyball is popular in Brazil.
nouncountablesport
The light, round ball used in the game of volleyball.
Grammar: Countable for the object: pass the volleyball.
Patterns
- a new volleyball
Can you pass me the volleyball?
He bought a new volleyball for the picnic.
The volleyball hit the net and bounced back.
Word forms
| plural | volleyballs |
|---|
Common combinations
- play volleyball
- They play volleyball after work.
- beach volleyball
- Beach volleyball is played in pairs.
- volleyball team
- Her volleyball team won the cup.
- volleyball court
- The volleyball court is behind the gym.
Synonyms and how they differ
- netball
- Netball is a different game with a hoop and no hitting of the ball over a net.
- beach ball
- A beach ball is a toy, not the heavier ball used in the sport.
- handball
- Handball is played with goals, not with a net.
Word family
Commonly confused: volleyball or basketball?
volleyball vs basketball
Basketball uses a hoop and a bigger ball; volleyball uses a net and hand hits.
Practice
Which spelling of the sport is correct?
Choose one answer.
The word is volley plus ball, giving volleyball. The other choices are the common misspellings that drop or add letters.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “volleyball”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.