bunt

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbənt How to pronounce bunt (audio)
Synonyms of buntnext
1
a
: the middle part of a square sail
b
: the part of a furled sail gathered up in a bunch at the center of the yard
2
: the bagging part of a fishing net

bunt

2 of 4

verb

bunted; bunting; bunts

transitive verb

1
: to strike or push with or as if with the head : butt
2
: to push or tap (a baseball) lightly with a bat without swinging

intransitive verb

: to bunt a baseball
bunter noun

bunt

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: an act or instance of bunting
2
: a bunted ball

bunt

4 of 4

noun (3)

: a destructive covered smut of wheat caused by a fungus (genus Tilletia)

Examples of bunt in a Sentence

Verb The batter bunted for a single. He bunted the ball toward third base.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Runs scored in myriad ways, from the RBI triple to smart baserunning to scoring on an error in the fourth inning, a two-out, two-run single by Bianca Vandenberg in the fifth inning, and the squeeze bunt. — Steve Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025 The Padres lead the major leagues with 32 sacrifice bunts and 47 total bunts put in play (eight hits, seven outs). — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
The double led off the second inning and might have led to a big rally had the Padres not bunted into an out. — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2025 Normal didn’t get another baserunner until the fifth, when Gavin Swartz had a leadoff single, was bunted to second and scored on another groundout. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bunt

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps from Low German, bundle, from Middle Low German; akin to Old English byndel bundle

Verb

alteration of butt

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1584, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

circa 1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bunt was circa 1582

Phrases Containing bunt

Rhymes for bunt

See All Rhymes for bunt

Browse Nearby Words

Bunsen-Kirchhoff law
bunt
buntal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bunt. Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.

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Kids Definition

bunt

verb
ˈbənt
1
: to strike or push with the horns or head : butt
2
: to push or tap a baseball lightly without swinging the bat
bunt noun
bunter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bunt

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bunt

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bunt

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