Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Being or giving a detailed running account of the action of an event, especially a sports event, as it occurs.
  • noun A detailed commentary of an event as it unfolds.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective US Describing a sports commentary in which a commentator describes every action in some detail, often assisted by a second commentator who provides background information and other comments

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Tales stepped back to the pitchers hill, and once again he started calling the play-by-play.

    Great Balls of Fire Loren Long 2008

  • MIAMI—Broadcasters covering the NBA finals for Spanish-speaking fans from different parts of the world do it from a Tower of Babel where a dunk is not a dunk, but the play-by-play guys disagree about just what to call it.

    Talking Basketball, in Spanish, Is Definitely No Slam Dunk Joel Millman 2011

  • A study this season by The Count looked at every major NFL announcing outfit and counted how many words-per-minute the play-by-play and color men said.

    Who Are Football's Chattiest Announcers? 2011

  • This analysis, which studied the first 15 minutes of every game from Week 1, showed Mr. Harlan was the most-talkative play-by-play man at 120.9 words-per-minute, while Kenny Albert was the quietest at 55.4.

    Who Are Football's Chattiest Announcers? 2011

  • * Reality check of the day: William Saletan on why the play-by-play of the Arizona shooting does not support the idea that armed citizens would make us safer in such situations.

    Happy Hour Roundup Greg Sargent 2011

  • A bombazo specialist might be a francotirador , Spanish for sniper, explains Mr. Daimiel, one of nearly a dozen out-of-town Spanish broadcasters shouting their play-by-play over the din of the crowds and the Heat's Cuban percussion combo during Game 2 last week.

    Talking Basketball, in Spanish, Is Definitely No Slam Dunk Joel Millman 2011

  • At Selcuk, headlocks were greeted by roars of approval from the crowd, and a higher octave from the commentator's relentless play-by-play.

    What's a Bigger Draw Than a Camel Fight? A Camel Beauty Contest, of Course Joe Parkinson 2011

  • They know the team and unlike football where you have a week for a national play-by-play to get to know the players, you only have a day in baseball.

    Colin Barnicle: What Happened in the Game? Colin Barnicle 2010

  • Head locks were greeted by roars of approval from the crowd, and a higher octave from the commentator's relentless play-by-play.

    Here He Comes, Mr. Camel 2011

  • SWITCH THE ANNOUNCERS: Whoever the team is, have their everday announcer do the play-by-play.

    Colin Barnicle: What Happened in the Game? Colin Barnicle 2010

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