batting

American  

[bat-ing] / ˈbæt ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or manner of using a bat in a game of ball.

2. cotton, wool, or synthetic fibers in batts or sheets, used as filling for quilts or bedcovers.

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batting British  

/ ˈbætɪŋ /

noun

1. Also called: batt.  cotton or woollen wadding used in quilts, mattresses, etc

2. the action of a person or team that hits with a bat, esp in cricket or baseball

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Etymology

Origin of batting

First recorded in 1605–15; bat ¹ + -ing ¹

Explanation

Batting is the soft, plush material on the inside of a blanket or quilt. When you make a quilt, you sew the front to the back with a layer of batting in between. Batting is sometimes called wadding in the UK. It's usually made of cotton, and it adds thickness and warmth to a blanket. You might see batting used as imitation snow in a department store window, as well. The word comes from the now-obsolete bat, "felted mass of fur or wool," from the idea of "beaten" or "batted" fabric.

Example Sentences

Stokes asked his players to dig in, and did so himself with his own batting tempo.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Dino Ebel, the Dodgers’ third-base coach, throws batting practice as well.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Before Ohtani took batting practice, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts took questions about his biggest star’s tepid start and said he wasn’t worried.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

“Sustainability comes way down the batting order behind factors like style, price and comfort,” said Neil Saunders, a managing director of research firm GlobalData.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

“Today we will figure out Mookie Betts’s batting average,” he says.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari