pitching: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Mixed (Everyday, Sports, Business, Technical)
Quick answer
What does “pitching” mean?
The action of throwing something, typically with a careful aim. Also refers to the act of presenting an idea, product, or proposal persuasively to someone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The action of throwing something, typically with a careful aim. Also refers to the act of presenting an idea, product, or proposal persuasively to someone.
1. (Sports) The act of throwing a ball, especially by a baseball pitcher or a cricketer. 2. (Nautical/Construction) The angle or slope of a surface, like a roof or ship's deck. 3. (Music/Audio) The perceived frequency of a sound. 4. (Aviation) The movement of an aircraft's nose up or down. 5. (Commerce) The act of making a sales proposal. 6. (Camping) The act of erecting a tent. 7. (Figurative) To suddenly or forcefully fall forward or headlong.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In sports: In the UK, 'pitching' in cricket refers to the delivery of the ball (and the location where it lands). In the US, it is overwhelmingly associated with baseball. The business sense ('making a proposal') is equally common in both. The camping sense ('pitching a tent') is more common in UK English.
Connotations
In US English, the sports connotation (baseball) is primary and culturally central. In UK English, the business and general 'throwing' senses are more balanced with the cricket and camping senses.
Frequency
The word is frequent in both varieties but spikes in specific domains: sports journalism in the US, business contexts globally, and outdoor leisure in the UK.
Grammar
How to Use “pitching” in a Sentence
pitch [sth] to [sb]pitch for [sth] (e.g., a contract)pitch [sth] at [a level/angle]pitch [sb] [sth] (ditransitive, rare)pitch in (phrasal verb: contribute)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pitching” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He is pitching the new marketing plan to the board tomorrow.
- We spent an hour pitching the tent in the wind.
- The bowler was pitching the ball outside off stump.
American English
- She's pitching the startup to venture capitalists in Silicon Valley.
- The baseball pitcher is pitching a no-hitter tonight.
- Be careful not to pitch forward on the icy stairs.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as pure adverb) Not standard. Typically part of a phrasal verb (pitching in).
American English
- (Rare as pure adverb) Not standard. Typically part of a phrasal verb (pitching in).
adjective
British English
- The pitching deck of the ship made walking difficult.
- They hired a new pitching coach for the county team.
American English
- The team's pitching rotation is the strongest in the league.
- He used a pitching wedge for the short shot onto the green.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the act of making a formal presentation to sell an idea, product, or service to potential investors or clients.
Academic
Used in physics/engineering for angles and slopes; in linguistics/music for sound frequency; in sports science for biomechanics.
Everyday
Commonly used for putting up a tent, throwing something roughly, or falling over.
Technical
Specific meanings in aviation (aircraft attitude), geology (dip of strata), sailing (ship's movement), and audio engineering (sound frequency adjustment).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pitching”
- Using 'pitching' for gentle throwing (use 'tossing').
- Confusing 'pitching in' (helping) with 'pitching into' (criticising).
- Using 'pitch' instead of 'pitching' as a gerund (e.g., 'He is good at pitch' is wrong).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while a primary meaning is sports-related (baseball, cricket), it is widely used in business, camping, sailing, music, and aviation.
'Pitching' implies a persuasive, concise attempt to sell or secure something (an idea, product, investment). 'Presenting' is more general and can be purely informational.
Yes, in phrases like 'pitching forward' or 'pitching headlong,' it means to fall or stumble forward suddenly and forcefully.
'Pitching in' is a phrasal verb meaning to contribute or help, often with effort or money. E.g., 'Everyone pitched in to clean up after the party.'
The action of throwing something, typically with a careful aim. Also refers to the act of presenting an idea, product, or proposal persuasively to someone.
Pitching is usually mixed (everyday, sports, business, technical) in register.
Pitching: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɪtʃ.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɪtʃ.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pitching a fit (having a tantrum)”
- “pitching in (contributing help/money)”
- “pitching woo (old-fashioned: courting)”
- “in there pitching (making a persistent effort)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BASEBALL PITCHER on a PITCH (field) trying to PITCH (sell) a new brand of sports drink to the manager. All actions involve 'sending something toward a target.'
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS THROWING (You pitch an idea to a client). LIFE IS A JOURNEY/STORM (We are pitching in rough seas).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'pitching' NOT typically involve a physical throw?