airballnoun [ C ]
also air ball uk/ˈeə.bɔːl//ˈer.bɑːl/in basketball, an attempt to throw the ball into the basket that completely misses it and the board behind it:
Hughes had a bad game, shooting at least three airballs.
More examples
- For a basketball player who does this for a living, shooting an airball is not a good thing.
- Miller held the ball before launching an airball.
- When an NBA star shoots an airball, people go wild.
- There's nothing worse than an airball in basketball.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Basketball, netball & volleyball
- backboard
- basket
- basketball
- beach volleyball
- center circle
- double-team
- dunk
- free throw
- game ball
- inbounds pass
- netball
- shoot
- slam dunk
- spike
- volleyball
airballverb [ T ]
uk/ˈeə.bɔːl//ˈer.bɑːl/in basketball, to try to throw the ball into the basket but completely miss it and the board behind it:
He airballed the attempt at a three-pointer.
More examples
- He airballed his free throw attempt.
- He airballed a long 3-pointer.
- LeBron airballed a free throw.
- The player airballed a long attempt.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Basketball, netball & volleyball
- backboard
- basket
- basketball
- beach volleyball
- center circle
- double-team
- dunk
- free throw
- game ball
- inbounds pass
- netball
- shoot
- slam dunk
- spike
- volleyball