# layup

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/layup
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a simple basketball shot where you jump and put the ball into the hoop. It is usually easy to make because you are close to the basket.

For teachers: a basketball shot taken while jumping toward the basket, typically from a short distance. Often used in a figurative sense to describe an easy or guaranteed success.

## Examples

- He made a perfect layup to win the game.
- The coach told the player to take a layup instead of trying to shoot from the three-point line.
- The rookie's ability to finish with a layup under pressure proved to be the deciding factor in the championship series.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.