Word
ballgame
Phoneticsball·game, stress on the second syllable
US/bɔɫˈɡeɪm/
UK/bˈɔːlɡeɪm/
Countable noun InformalSports
Definition
n. a game played with a ball, like baseball or basketball. It can also mean a situation or a problem that is very difficult to deal with.
n. a game involving the use of a ball, such as baseball or basketball. In a figurative sense, it refers to a complex situation or a significant problem.
Examples
“The kids are playing a ballgame in the park.”
“The manager said the project was a ballgame because the requirements kept changing every week.”
“While the physical ballgame was a close contest, the real challenge for the team was managing the logistical hurdles of playing in a foreign country.”
Examples
simple
“The kids are playing a ballgame in the park.”
contextual
“The manager said the project was a ballgame because the requirements kept changing every week.”
complex
“While the physical ballgame was a close contest, the real challenge for the team was managing the logistical hurdles of playing in a foreign country.”
Real-World Examples
“On Saturdays throughout autumn, residents of Totnes have met at a field on the banks of the River Dart to play ballgames, fly kites or simply sit on the grass and chat.” “Shelled were three times more expensive, so most people preferred to bite the nuts open themselves and spit out the shells, the way Americans eat peanuts at a ballgame.” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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