line drive

NOUN

baseball hit that is straight

Synonyms

STRONGEST

liner

WEAK

clothesline line shot rope

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“We never heard the term ‘launch angle,’” said Garvey, who told me he went up to the plate trying to hit a line drive, not a moon shot.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026

He had a diving catch at first base on a line drive from Tronstein in the seventh.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

A pitcher caught a line drive — or rather, the ball caught him — with his jersey.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

Toronto's Alejandro Kirk was hit by a pitch from reliever Roki Sasaki and replaced by speedy pinch-runner Myles Straw, before Addison Barger's line drive wedged under the wall in left centre field.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025

If the ball’s hit on the ground, he takes off; if it’s a line drive, he freezes until it clears the infield; and if it’s in the air, he laser-locks on Webb at third.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner