inbounds
Americanadjective
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Sports. being within the boundaries of a court or field.
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Basketball. of or relating to passing the ball onto the court from out of bounds.
Etymology
Origin of inbounds
First recorded in 1960–65; adj. use of prepositional phrase in bounds
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.
“This is for the championship and we wanted it more tonight,” said Robinson, who sealed the win on a layup off an inbounds play with less than 20 seconds left.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026
After grabbing an inbounds pass in the backcourt, Dailey went in for a layup in which he was fouled, eventually making the free throw to complete a three-point play.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2025
The Wolverines tried to steal the inbounds pass, but Stokes sneaked behind the defense and dunked to clinch it.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2025
That’s when Andrew Nembhard threw away the inbounds pass, handing the Celtics yet another chance.
From Seattle Times • May 21, 2024
“We’ll go with the thirty-four play to Tommy. Jerry inbounds the ball to Tommy and everybody else blocks out their man the best they can.”
From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
