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

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.
Control boots are built for touch on the ball and clean finishing. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 30 June 2026 At Bayern last season, around a quarter of his chances came from that zone on the edge of the box, showcasing the value of getting him on the ball between the lines. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Late in the game, Portugal were spared extra time after Croatia's second goal was ruled out for an offside detected by the faintest touch on the ball. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026 Adidas’s 1994 Predator added strips of rubber on the shoe’s toe, which provided extra grip that the company and players say translated to bigger, curvier bends on the ball. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for on the ball

Rhymes for on the ball

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Browse Nearby Words

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 9 Jul. 2026.

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