bat
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈbat 
1
: a stout solid stick : club
2
: a sharp blow : stroke
3
a
: a usually wooden implement used for hitting the ball in various games
b
: a paddle used in various games (such as table tennis)
c
: the short whip used by a jockey
4
a
: batsman, batter
a right-handed bat
b
: a turn at batting —usually used in the phrase at bat
c
: hitting ability
we need his bat in the lineup
5
: batt
6
British : rate of speed : gait
7
: binge
bat
2 of 5verb (1)
batted; batting
transitive verb
1
: to strike or hit with or as if with a bat
2
a
: to advance (a base runner) by batting
b
: to have a batting average of
3
: to discuss at length : consider in detail
intransitive verb
1
a
: to strike or hit a ball with a bat
b
: to take one's turn at bat
2
: to wander aimlessly
bat
3 of 5noun (2)
: any of a widely distributed order (Chiroptera) of nocturnal usually frugivorous or insectivorous flying mammals that have wings formed from four elongated digits of the forelimb covered by a cutaneous membrane and that have adequate visual capabilities but often rely on echolocation
bat
4 of 5verb (2)
batted; batting
transitive verb
: to wink especially in surprise or emotion
never batted an eye
also : flutter
batted his eyelashes
BAT
5 of 5abbreviation
bachelor of arts in teaching
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bang
- bash
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Verb (1)
- bang
- bash
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English batt
Noun (2)
probably alteration of Middle English bakke, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish nattbakka bat
Verb (2)
probably alteration of bate entry 2
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1580, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
circa 1787, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing bat
Kids Definition
bat 1 of 3
noun
ˈbat
1
: a sharp blow or slap
a bat on the ear
2
: an implement used for hitting the ball in various games a baseball bat
3
: a turn at batting
You're next at bat.
bat
2 of 3verb
batted; batting
1
: to strike with or as if with a bat The cat batted at the tablecloth's tassels.
2
: to take a turn at bat
Have you batted yet?
bat
3 of 3noun
: any of a group of mammals that fly by means of long front limbs modified into wings
Medical Definition
bat
noun
ˈbat
: any of an order (Chiroptera) of nocturnal placental flying mammals with forelimbs modified to form wings
off the bat
phrase
as in now
without delay She got a job right off the bat after graduation. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- now
- directly
- immediately
- promptly
- instantly
- right
- right off
- straight off
- right now
- right away
- soon
- shortly
- away
- suddenly
- quickly
- presently
- instantaneously
- pronto
- straightaway
- headlong
- forthwith
- straightway
- incontinently
- at once
- instanter
- on the spot
- on the double
- plumb
- rapidly
- freely
- abruptly
- on a dime
- in no time
- swiftly
- quick
- readily
- bang
- fast
- momentarily
- PDQ
- hastily
- unexpectedly
- speedily
- swift
- briskly
- exactly
- apace
- anon
- presto
- recklessly
- posthaste
- opportunely
- impulsively
- rashly
- fleetly
- impetuously
- snappily
- seasonably
- punctually
- full-tilt
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slowly
- late
- tardily