goal line

noun

: a line at either end and usually running the width of a playing area on which a goal or goalpost is situated

Examples of goal line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The whole of the ball has to cross the goal line for a goal to be scored. — Tomás Hill López-Menchero, New York Times, 22 June 2026 However, the ball had some backspin after landing, and rolled harmlessly across the goal line. — Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026 But Edson Álvarez jumped high to boot it away from the goal line with an overhead kick, landing on his back in the process. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026 The final score was almost padded three minutes later as Rahimi’s header on the break clanged down off the crossbar, but stopped just short of crossing the goal line. — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for goal line

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of goal line was in 1860

Rhymes for goal line

See All Rhymes for goal line

Browse Nearby Words

goalless
goal line
go all out
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Goal line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/goal%20line. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

goal line

noun
: a line at either end of a playing area that marks the goal
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All