snowball
SNOH-bawl
Snowball (noun) means a ball made of packed snow, often thrown for fun. Example: “She packed a snowball and hit her brother square in the back.”
noun
1
A ball made of packed snow, often thrown for fun.
"She packed a snowball and hit her brother square in the back."
verb
1
To grow bigger and bigger very quickly, often out of control.
"The rumor snowballed until half the office believed it."
"The high unemployment rates quickly snowballed into a major budget problem for the government."
How to use snowball
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally a ball of packed snow; figuratively, something that keeps growing rapidly, like debt or a rumor rolling downhill.
Common pairings
throw a snowball
snowball effect
debt snowballed
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Word forms
- Plural
- snowballs
- Third person singular
- snowballs
- Past tense
- snowballed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She packed a _____ and hit her brother square in the back.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of "snow" and "ball," dating back to Middle English.
Synonyms
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sweet sand verbena
Frequently asked questions
What does “snowball” mean?
The word “snowball” means a ball made of packed snow, often thrown for fun. In plain terms, literally a ball of packed snow; figuratively, something that keeps growing rapidly, like debt or a rumor rolling downhill.
How do you pronounce “snowball”?
“Snowball” is pronounced SNOH-bawl (/ˈsnoʊbɔl/ in IPA).
How do you use “snowball” in a sentence?
Here is “snowball” used in a sentence: “She packed a snowball and hit her brother square in the back.”
What part of speech is “snowball”?
Depending on how it is used, “snowball” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “snowball” come from?
The word “snowball” comes from Middle English. A straightforward compound of "snow" and "ball," dating back to Middle English.
Is “snowball” a common word?
“Snowball” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “snowball” have?
“Snowball” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a ball made of packed snow, often thrown for fun.
