Definition

A sport played by two teams where players try to score points by throwing a ball through a hoop.

Example

He plays basketball every Saturday with his friends.

Conversation

Did you catch the basketball game last night?

Yeah, it was so exciting!

I can't believe how close the score was at the end.

I know, right? That last shot was incredible!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Basketball is formed from "basket" (from Middle Dutch *basquette*, meaning a container made of interwoven materials) and "ball" (from Old Norse *bollr*, meaning a round object). The word describes a game played with a round object thrown into a container made of interwoven materials.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'basket' as a container and a 'ball' as a round object — basketball is the game where you throw a round object into a container.

Visually Confused Words