layup

layup — noun

1. in basketball, an attempt to score by going right to the hoop and placing or ban

1.nounB2
Definition

in basketball, an attempt to score by going right to the hoop and placing or banking the ball in with one hand.

Example

Theo drove past the defender and finished with a soft layup.

finish with a layup after driving to the hoop

Zuri missed the first layup, but the rebound stayed in play.

Common collocations
  • easy layup
  • miss a layup
  • left-handed layup
  • go for a layup
Synonyms
  • bank shot

    can also use the backboard, but it is broader and not always taken at the rim

  • finger roll

    a softer one-handed finish that is often used as one type of layup

Grammar Patterns

make a layup

miss a layup

left-handed layup

Usage Note

Usually refers to a finish taken right beside the hoop after one or two steps. Players also talk about left-handed, right-handed, or reverse layups.

Common Mistakes

He scored with a layup from the three-point line.
He hit a three-pointer from the three-point line.
a layup is taken right by the basket, not from long range.

2. in golf, a deliberately short shot played so the ball stops before water, sand,

2.nounC1
Definition

in golf, a deliberately short shot played so the ball stops before water, sand, or another danger.

Example

Nikhil chose a layup because the pond guarded the green.

choose a layup to stay short of water

Yara's layup left her a short wedge into the flag.

Common collocations
  • play a layup
  • choose a layup
  • layup before the bunker
  • layup short of the water
Synonyms
  • safe shot

    broader golf wording for a lower-risk choice, not this specific term

  • conservative play

    can describe the plan for a whole hole, not only one shot

Grammar Patterns

play a layup

choose a layup

layup before the bunker

Usage Note

Used when a player gives up distance to keep the next shot easier. It contrasts with an aggressive shot that tries to clear the hazard or reach the green.

Common Mistakes

He hit a layup because he wanted the ball to go farther.
He hit a layup because he wanted to stay short of the lake.
a layup is a controlled short shot, not a power shot.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For the basketball sense, a layup is the normal close-range finish made while moving to the basket. A dunk is more forceful: the player pushes the ball straight down through the rim, so it needs more height and power. A runner is released earlier and higher, often before the player reaches the hoop or when a tall defender is waiting. A bank shot is broader still, because it only says the ball touches the backboard; it may be a layup, but it can also come from farther away. So if Theo takes two steps, reaches the rim, and gently puts the ball in, that is a layup. If he jumps and slams it through, it is a dunk instead.

layup ↗dunkrunner ↗bank shot

Etymology

Old EnglishModern English

Built in modern English from lay and up. In basketball it refers to a shot that is set up close to the hoop rather than thrown from distance. Golf later extended the same form to a shot that is laid short on purpose, leaving an easier next stroke.

First known use

1845

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb