on the ball

ADJECTIVE

alert

Synonyms

WEAK

active all ears attentive bright cagey careful clever good hands heads up intelligent lively observant on guard on one's toes on the job on the lookout on the stick perceptive quick ready sharp spirited vigilant watchful wise with it

ADVERB

paying attention

Synonyms

WEAK

alert alive attentive awake on one's toes on the job on top of ready sharp vital wide-awake with it

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.

They believe his ability on the ball, vision and understanding of the game means he will become more versatile as the years go on.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

Romero made no contact on the ball and should have been sent off for Dogso.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Newcastle's 6ft 7in defender Dan Burn has since played as a left-back, tucking in to form a back three on the ball before defending as a left-back out of possession.

From BBC • May 22, 2026

It was, he says, her “composure on the ball, and the way she saw time and space with her passing, that first made my heart cleave.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

I don’t tell a lot of people but I like the little pebbles on the ball, the way they feel against my fingertips.

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers

on the ball

Example Sentences

Related Words