pinch-hit
1 of 2verb
ˈpinch-ˈhit 
ˌpinch-
pinch-hit; pinch-hitting; pinch-hits
intransitive verb
1
: to act or serve in place of another
2
: to bat in the place of another player especially when a hit is particularly needed
pinch hit
2 of 2noun
: a hit made by a pinch hitter
Synonyms
Verb
- cover
- fill in
- stand in
- step in
- sub
- substitute
- take over
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Tim Bielik, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2022 In the bottom of the fourth, Ruston pinch hit and smacked a two-run home run just out of the reach of the center fielder to put the game out of reach at 5-1. Matthew Gelhard, ajc, 27 Aug. 2022 Ji-Man Choi pinch hit and manager Aaron Boone came out to bring in left-hander Lucas Luetge. Ronald Blum, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2022 Martinez was available to pinch hit despite back spasms and could return to the lineup on Monday night. ... Jimmy Golen, Hartford Courant, 24 July 2022 Few big-league hitters have faced a greater higher-leverage situation this season than when Schwindel pinch hit in the ninth inning Tuesday with two outs and the bases loaded as the Cubs trailed the Padres by one run. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2022 After his pinch hit double tied it in the seventh, Choi was immediately replaced by a pinch runner because of soreness in his left hamstring. Doug Alden, courant.com, 11 Aug. 2021 Pujols was pinch hit for in the top of the ninth, drawing a chorus of boos that weren't necessarily intended for local guy Nolan Gorman, the pinch hitter. José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 20 Aug. 2022 With Christian Arroyo on first and two out, Alex Cora pinch hit for Kevin Plawecki against lights-out reliever Devin Williams. Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 See More
Noun
In the bottom of the fourth, Ruston pinch hit and smacked a two-run home run just out of the reach of the center fielder to put the game out of reach at 5-1. Tim Bielik, cleveland, 28 Aug. 2022 In the bottom of the fourth, Ruston pinch hit and smacked a two-run home run just out of the reach of the center fielder to put the game out of reach at 5-1. Matthew Gelhard, ajc, 27 Aug. 2022 Ji-Man Choi pinch hit and manager Aaron Boone came out to bring in left-hander Lucas Luetge. Ronald Blum, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2022 Martinez was available to pinch hit despite back spasms and could return to the lineup on Monday night. ... Jimmy Golen, Hartford Courant, 24 July 2022 Few big-league hitters have faced a greater higher-leverage situation this season than when Schwindel pinch hit in the ninth inning Tuesday with two outs and the bases loaded as the Cubs trailed the Padres by one run. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2022 After his pinch hit double tied it in the seventh, Choi was immediately replaced by a pinch runner because of soreness in his left hamstring. Doug Alden, courant.com, 11 Aug. 2021 Pujols was pinch hit for in the top of the ninth, drawing a chorus of boos that weren't necessarily intended for local guy Nolan Gorman, the pinch hitter. José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 20 Aug. 2022 With Christian Arroyo on first and two out, Alex Cora pinch hit for Kevin Plawecki against lights-out reliever Devin Williams. Julian Mcwilliams, BostonGlobe.com, 30 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
back-formation from pinch hitter
First Known Use
Verb
1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1927, in the meaning defined above
pinch-hitting
verb
as in substituting
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only assigned to pinch-hit as a math teacher for the remainder of the semester Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- substituting
- subbing
- spelling
- standing in
- covering
- filling in
- taking over
- stepping in
- understudying
- relieving
- doubling (as)