on the ball

phrase

Synonyms of on the ballnext
1
: competent, knowledgeable, alert
… the other introductory essay … is much more on the ball.—The Times Literary Supplement (London)
keep on the ball
2
: of ability or competence
… if the teacher has something on the ball, the pupils won't squirm much …—New Yorker

Examples of on the ball in a Sentence

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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.
Bringing a defender up to the level of a ball screen creates pressure on the ball handler. — C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 Oct. 2026 Keeping your chest up and core engaged, step your left foot back, landing on the ball of your foot. — Jenessa Connor, HEALTH, 26 Oct. 2026 With one leg, take a step backward, landing softly on the ball of your foot. — Sarah Stiefvater, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2026 Tielemans has gone from being the furthest on the ball midfield player to being a holding midfielder with expectations to be excellent out of possession. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for on the ball

Rhymes for on the ball

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on the back of
on the ball
on the ballot
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Cite this Entry

“On the ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20ball. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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