WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pinch′ hit′, [Baseball.]
pinch-hit (pinch′hit′),USA pronunciation v.i., -hit, -hit•ting.
v.t.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- Sporta hit made by a pinch hitter.
- 1910–15
pinch-hit (pinch′hit′),USA pronunciation v.i., -hit, -hit•ting.
- Sport[Baseball.]to serve as a pinch hitter.
- Informal Termsto substitute for someone, esp. in an emergency.
v.t.
- Sport[Baseball.]to get, or make (a hit) in pinch-hitting.
- back formation from pinch hitter 1930–35, American.
ˈpinch-ˈhit,
v. [no object], -hit, -hit•ting.
- Sportto substitute at bat for a teammate in baseball:I stepped up to pinch-hit for him.
- Informal Termsto substitute for someone, esp. in an emergency:Can you get someone to pinch-hit for me for my next class?
'pinch hit' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):