How to Use backboard in a Sentence

backboard

noun
  • No frills, not even a backboard.
    — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 26 Nov. 2025
  • The fan chucked the ball clear of the backboard.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • He was placed on a backboard and then on a cart.
    — Lauren Merola, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
  • But the ball went straight at the square on the backboard and banked in.
    — Darryl Matsuda, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2017
  • The ball bumped against the backboard, then dropped straight through the net.
    — Terry Pluto, cleveland, 5 Mar. 2021
  • The ball careened off the backboard just to the left of the square.
    — Kareem Copeland, Washington Post, 20 July 2024
  • Selden put up a no-look shot and the ball hit high on the backboard and went through.
    — Pete Grathoff, kansascity, 29 Mar. 2018
  • Olave was then put on a backboard and taken off the field on a cart.
    — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 3 Nov. 2024
  • The ball had been batted out of bounds and over the top of the backboard.
    — Scott Horner, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Mar. 2022
  • Clouden followed with a floater off the backboard to push the lead to nine.
    — Eli McKown, Detroit Free Press, 11 Feb. 2022
  • The lights on the backboard turned red as the buzzer sounded, then his shot fell.
    — Laine Higgins, WSJ, 2 Apr. 2023
  • And the shot careened off the top near corner of the backboard.
    — Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 May 2018
  • Mitchell had an assistant toss the ball off the side of the backboard.
    — Nick Vadala, Philly.com, 19 Feb. 2018
  • The ball went off the backboard and into the net as the buzzer sounded.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Ladders, backboards and pallets were used as a workspace to pull the man out.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
  • The Wolverines' full-court heave at the buzzer went over the backboard.
    — San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2023
  • Bothered by the big man’s defense, the ball clanged off the backboard.
    — Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Mar. 2018
  • The first time, the school had a spare backboard in storage that could replace it.
    — Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2024
  • Many of Auburn’s shots weren’t even close and bounced wildly off the backboard.
    — Giana Han, al, 27 Nov. 2019
  • Then Costley flips it over his head and off the backboard for a few easy lay-ups.
    — Pat Stoetzer, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 13 July 2019
  • As Adam points out, the shot clocks above the backboard are back for the second half.
    — Katie McInerney, BostonGlobe.com, 13 May 2022
  • The red light lit the backboard’s perimeter while the ball was still in Smart’s hand.
    — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 May 2023
  • King was charged with a turnover on a ball that hit the rim and bounced over the top of the backboard and got stuck there.
    — Stephen Hawkins, ajc, 1 Apr. 2023
  • The ball hit the front rim, bounced off the backboard, and hit a side rim before dropping in.
    — James Weber, The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2023
  • The ball hit off the very top of the backboard, came down off the front of the rim and bounced straight through the net.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 22 Mar. 2026
  • This one was wide left, bouncing off the side of the rim, off the backboard and away from glory.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Kawamura tossed the ball off the backboard.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
  • The ball banked off the backboard and into the basket as the buzzer sounded.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Maxey got back to block the shot off the backboard just before time expired.
    — CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
  • Edey tries to go at Clingan but chucks one over the other side of the backboard.
    — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backboard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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