# pitch

/ˈpɪtʃ/ (US) · /pˈɪtʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pitch
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sports field

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

the area of grass where you play sports like football, rugby, or cricket.

For teachers: the designated playing area for certain field sports, particularly association football, rugby, and cricket.

- The players ran onto the pitch as the crowd started to cheer.
- Heavy rainfall overnight left the pitch waterlogged, forcing the referee to postpone the match for safety reasons.

Usage: Commonly used in British English; American English speakers prefer 'field'.

### 2. sound frequency

noun · CEFR B2

how high or low a sound or musical note is.

For teachers: the perceived frequency of a sound or musical note, determined by the speed of vibrations.

- She has a very high pitch to her voice when she is excited.
- The singer struggled to maintain the correct pitch during the bridge of the song, occasionally sliding into a flat tone.

### 3. sales talk

noun · CEFR B2

a speech or talk designed to persuade someone to buy or do something.

For teachers: a persuasive speech or presentation aimed at selling a product or promoting an idea.

- The entrepreneur gave a five-minute pitch to the investors to get funding.
- After weeks of preparation, the marketing team delivered a flawless pitch that secured the multi-million dollar contract.

### 4. sticky substance

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a thick, black, sticky substance made from tar or tree sap.

For teachers: a dark, extremely viscous or solid substance obtained from the distillation of tar or the sap of certain trees.

- The boat's wooden planks were sealed with pitch to keep the water out.
- Historically, pitch was an essential commodity in shipbuilding for caulking seams and protecting timber from rot.

### 5. to throw

verb · CEFR B1

to throw something, especially a ball in a game of baseball.

For teachers: to throw or toss an object; specifically, to deliver a ball to a batter in baseball.

- The player pitched the ball so fast that the batter couldn't hit it.
- The star athlete pitched seven scoreless innings before being replaced by a relief bowler in the eighth.

### 6. to set up

verb · CEFR B1

to put up a tent or a temporary shelter.

For teachers: to erect or assemble a tent or similar temporary structure.

- We found a flat piece of ground and pitched our tent before it got dark.
- The hikers decided to pitch camp near the stream, ensuring they had a reliable water source for the night.

### 7. to tilt or rock

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to move up and down, like a ship in rough water or an airplane.

For teachers: to move with a plunging or oscillating motion about a transverse axis, typical of ships or aircraft.

- The small boat began to pitch violently as the storm grew stronger.
- The aircraft began to pitch and roll as it entered the zone of severe turbulence, causing concern among the passengers.

### 8. to target an audience

verb · CEFR B2

to aim a story, speech, or product at a particular group of people.

For teachers: to set or adjust the tone, level, or style of a communication for a specific audience.

- The book is pitched at teenagers who enjoy science fiction.
- The professor pitched her lecture at a level that was accessible to undergraduates while still providing depth for the graduate students present.

## Examples

- She gives a great sales pitch.
- The startup founder prepared her pitch for the investors, hoping to get funding for her new app.
- His pitch, a carefully constructed narrative of personal struggle and triumph, was designed not just to sell a product but to win the hearts and minds of the entire board.

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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.