home run: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, but widely used in formal contexts (e.g., business) as a metaphorical term.
Quick answer
What does “home run” mean?
In baseball/rounders: a hit that allows the batter to run around all bases to score without error from the fielding side.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In baseball/rounders: a hit that allows the batter to run around all bases to score without error from the fielding side.
A great success or achievement, especially one that yields a significant and decisive positive outcome.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Literal meaning is fully understood in the UK due to cultural exposure, but the sport played is rounders. The metaphorical use is common in both varieties, but it originates from and is more frequent in AmE.
Connotations
In AmE, strongly tied to national sport and ideals of decisive success. In BrE, often perceived as an Americanism but widely adopted in business/media contexts.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English. In British English, the metaphorical use is common, but literal use is rare outside discussions of baseball.
Grammar
How to Use “home run” in a Sentence
hit/score a home run (literal)be a home run (figurative)hit a home run with someone (figurative)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “home run” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He homered in the third inning to seal the victory. (rare in UK)
American English
- The rookie homered twice in yesterday's game.
adjective
British English
- It was a home-run presentation for the investors. (hyphenated attributive)
American English
- They're looking for a home run hire to lead the division.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new product launch was a total home run, exceeding sales targets."
Academic
Rare; may appear in sports sociology or business case studies analyzing success metrics.
Everyday
"Your presentation was a home run! Everyone loved it."
Technical
Baseball/rounders: a four-base hit; also used in statistics (HR).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “home run”
- Writing as one word: homerun (non-standard, though 'homer' is informal for home run).
- Using plural incorrectly: 'He scored three home runs' is correct.
- Using in inappropriate contexts where a simpler word like 'success' is better.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, informally, especially in American English (e.g., 'He homered in the 5th inning'). The verb form 'to homer' is derived from the noun.
No, the standard collocations are 'hit a home run' (most common), 'score a home run', or simply 'it was a home run'.
Literally, a grand slam is a specific type of home run hit with the bases loaded (scoring four runs). Figuratively, 'grand slam' can imply a success encompassing multiple achievements, while 'home run' is a single, decisive success.
Yes, the metaphorical meaning is widely understood in international business and media, though its origins in baseball are recognized.
In baseball/rounders: a hit that allows the batter to run around all bases to score without error from the fielding side.
Home run is usually informal, but widely used in formal contexts (e.g., business) as a metaphorical term. in register.
Home run: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊm ˌrʌn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhoʊm ˌrʌn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit it out of the park (synonymous metaphor)”
- “swing for the fences (aim for a home run)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine running HOME after a successful hit to score a RUN. The phrase combines the destination (home plate) with the action (run).
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS A SUCCESSFUL SPORTS PLAY / A SIGNIFICANT SUCCESS IS A HOME RUN.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'home run' LEAST likely to be used metaphorically?