Phrase guide

have a ball

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To enjoy oneself thoroughly; to have lots of fun or excitement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • The kids had a ball playing in the fountain.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: have a whale of a time

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

enjoy oneself greatly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We had a ball at the party and didn't come home until 2 AM

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: have a good time

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: delight, enjoy, revel

History

Etymology

Likely from ball in the sense of a dance.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: pitää hauskaa — to enjoy thoroughly
  • French: s'amuser comme un petit fou — to enjoy thoroughly
  • French: s'éclater — to enjoy thoroughly
  • German: gewaltigen Spaß haben — to enjoy thoroughly
  • German: sich bestens amüsieren — to enjoy thoroughly
  • German: eine tolle Zeit haben — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Hungarian: nagyon/borzasztóan jól érzi magát — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Hungarian: remekül/ragyogóan érzi magát — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Hungarian: remekül szórakozik — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Icelandic: skemmta sér konunglega — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Japanese: 堪能する (tannō suru) — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Japanese: 満喫する (mankitsu suru) — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Polish: bardzo dobrze się bawić — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Spanish: pasarlo pipa — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Spanish: pasarlo bomba — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Spanish: pasarlo teta — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Spanish: pasarlo la mar de bien — to enjoy thoroughly
  • Spanish: disfrutar como un enano — to enjoy thoroughly