line drive

noun

: a batted baseball hit in a nearly straight line usually not far above the ground

Examples of line drive in a Sentence

He hit a hard line drive to the shortstop.
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.
Two pitches later, Jorge Mateo walked it off with a line drive to center field. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 Henderson hit a line drive over the center field wall for a 1-0 first-inning lead. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 Following a bunt from Nevada’s Michael Kleiner, Maddox Bryan hit a line drive to center field, driving in two runs. — Alex Harkins, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 The California native started the year with the Pittsburgh Pirates and suffered a scary injury during spring training when he was hit in the head with a line drive. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for line drive

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of line drive was in 1903

Rhymes for line drive

See All Rhymes for line drive

Browse Nearby Words

line drawing
line drive
line drop
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Line drive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20drive. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

line drive

noun
: a batted baseball hit not far above the ground in a nearly straight line

More from Merriam-Webster on line drive

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about line drive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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