pitches
pitches — verb
- pitchespresent simple I / you / we / they
- pitcheses3rd person singular
- pitchesing-ing form
- pitchesedpast simple
1. to throw something quickly or with force, or to be thrown or fall suddenly in a
to throw something quickly or with force, or to be thrown or fall suddenly in a particular direction — for example, pitching a stone into a river, or being pitched off a bicycle onto the road
Nikos pitched the empty bottle into the recycling bin on his way out.
pitch + object + into: throwing forcefully
The bus stopped without warning, and passengers were pitched forward into the aisle.
passive: be pitched + adverb of direction
During the storm, the small fishing boat pitched wildly from side to side.
intransitive: ship/boat rocking motion
Yara’s bike hit a rock and she was pitched over the handlebars onto the grass.
The mechanic pitched the broken bolt into the scrap metal bin with a clatter.
pitch + object + into: forceful throw
- pitch forward
- pitch into
- pitch overboard
- pitch from side to side
- pitch up and down
- catch
receiving instead of throwing
Grammar Patterns
pitch + object + into/onto/over/down
be pitched + adverb/preposition
pitch + adverb of direction (intransitive)
Usage Note
Frequently used with adverbs of direction (forward, into, over, off). For ships and boats, ‘pitch’ is the front-to-back rocking motion, distinct from ‘roll’ (side-to-side).
Common Mistakes
2. in the sport of baseball, to send the ball toward the batter standing at home pl
in the sport of baseball, to send the ball toward the batter standing at home plate, or to take the role of pitcher on a team
Maeve has been pitching for her school team since she was twelve years old.
intransitive: pitch + for + team
Ife pitched a fastball that the batter swung at and missed completely.
transitive: pitch + type of throw
The coach told Liang to pitch more slowly and aim for the corners.
Amihan practiced pitching every afternoon until the sun went down.
After his arm injury, the team needed a new player to pitch in the finals.
pitch in + game/event context
- pitch a ball
- pitch a fastball
- pitch for a team
- start pitching
- pitch in the game
- bat
the action of trying to hit the pitched ball
Grammar Patterns
pitch + ball + to + batter
pitch + for + team name
pitch (no object)
Usage Note
Only used in the context of baseball. The person who pitches is called a pitcher. ‘Pitch’ can also mean ‘play as pitcher’ — ‘Who is pitching tonight?’
Common Mistakes
3. to set up a tent or another type of temporary shelter so it is ready for sleepin
to set up a tent or another type of temporary shelter so it is ready for sleeping or spending time in
Nikhil pitched the tent near a stream while the others collected firewood.
pitch + tent
The scouts decided to pitch camp before the heavy rain began to fall.
fixed expression: pitch camp
Anjali showed the children how to pitch a tent using just two poles.
The hikers pitched their shelters on a flat, dry patch of ground.
Talia and her cousins pitched three large tents for the family reunion.
pitch + number + tents
- pitch a tent
- pitch camp
- pitch a shelter
Grammar Patterns
pitch + tent/camp
Usage Note
‘Pitch a tent’ and ‘pitch camp’ are the most common fixed expressions. This sense is more common in British English; in American English, ‘set up a tent’ is more frequent.
Common Mistakes
4. to adjust the difficulty, tone, or standard of something (such as a lesson, spee
to adjust the difficulty, tone, or standard of something (such as a lesson, speech, or product) so that it suits the people you are addressing
The teacher pitched the lesson at a level the whole class could understand.
pitch + lesson + at + level
Antonia pitched her presentation to suit both beginners and experienced engineers.
The comedian pitched his jokes just right for the mixed-age audience.
pitch + right — hitting the correct level
Ava pitched her voice low so that only the people in the front row could hear.
Anya pitched the difficulty of the game carefully so children could enjoy it too.
- pitch at the right level
- pitch too high
- pitch too low
- pitch to an audience
- pitch correctly
Grammar Patterns
pitch + something + at + level
pitch + something + to + audience/situation
Usage Note
Commonly used in education and business to describe adjusting the difficulty, tone, or appeal of something to suit a particular audience. Also used for voice volume: ‘pitch your voice so everyone can hear.’
Common Mistakes
5. to set a musical instrument, a voice, or a sound at a particular level of highne
to set a musical instrument, a voice, or a sound at a particular level of highness or lowness
The choir director pitched the opening note for the singers to follow.
pitch + note: giving the starting pitch
The song was pitched too high for most of the class to sing comfortably.
passive: be pitched + too high/low
A guitarist in the band tuned the instrument and pitched the strings higher than usual.
A soprano asked the pianist to pitch the accompaniment in a lower key.
The instrument was pitched in a range that suited both melody and harmony parts.
- pitch a note
- pitch a song
- pitch in a key
- pitch too high
- pitch too low
- pitch correctly
Grammar Patterns
pitch + instrument/voice + at + note/key
be pitched + adverb (high/low)
Usage Note
Often used in the passive form: ‘The song is pitched too high.’ This sense is distinguished from sense 4 (SET LEVEL) by being specific to sound and music, not to general standards or tone.
Common Mistakes
6. to present an idea, product, or plan to someone with the goal of convincing them
to present an idea, product, or plan to someone with the goal of convincing them to accept it, buy it, or give you work — for example, a salesperson pitching a new product, or a writer pitching a story idea to an editor
Liang pitched his business idea to three investors over lunch.
pitch + idea + to + person: presenting for approval
Yara spent the morning pitching her new design to the marketing team.
Amihan pitched for the contract against five other design companies.
pitch + for: competing to win business
The young inventor pitched her kitchen gadget on a popular television show.
Nikhil is pitching a series of after-school workshops to local community centres.
pitch + programme + to + organisation
- pitch an idea
- pitch a product
- pitch a proposal
- pitch for business
- pitch for a contract
- pitch to investors
- reject
refusing the idea or proposal
Grammar Patterns
pitch + idea/product/proposal + to + person/group
pitch + for + business/contract
Usage Note
Common in business and media contexts. You pitch an idea, product, proposal, or story — not a person. In British English, ‘pitch for’ is common: ‘Our company is pitching for the contract.’
Common Mistakes
7. to form a slant in which one part is higher or lower than another, rather than b
to form a slant in which one part is higher or lower than another, rather than being completely flat
The garden path pitches gently toward the small pond at the bottom.
intransitive: pitch + adverb of direction
The old barn roof pitches steeply on both sides so rain runs off quickly.
Beyond the wooden fence, the ground pitches sharply down toward the river.
Sofia asked the builders to pitch the new patio roof slightly away from the house.
transitive: pitch + object + adverb (away from)
The hillside pitches so steeply that Yuki had to use both hands to climb up.
- pitch steeply
- pitch gently
- pitch sharply
- pitch downward
- pitch away from
- level
flat, without any slope
Grammar Patterns
pitch + adverb (steeply/gently/downward)
pitch + object + adverb
Usage Note
Intransitive use is most common — surfaces pitch, not people. When used transitively, the object is the surface being built or designed (roof, floor, path).
Common Mistakes
8. in golf, to hit the ball so that it rises steeply in the air and comes down soft
in golf, to hit the ball so that it rises steeply in the air and comes down softly on the green, without rolling very far after landing
From sixty yards out, Thando pitched the ball over the bunker and onto the green.
pitch + ball + over/onto (direction pattern)
Diego pitched cleanly from the rough, and the ball stopped two metres from the hole.
The golf instructor showed the beginners how to pitch with a short, smooth swing.
Nozomi pitched her third shot to within half a metre of the pin on hole sixteen.
pitch + possessive + shot + to within [distance]
When the flag is near the front edge, pitch the ball high instead of rolling it.
- pitch over a bunker
- pitch onto the green
- pitch to the pin
- pitch cleanly
- pitch high
Grammar Patterns
pitch + ball + prepositional phrase (over/onto/to)
pitch + adverb (cleanly/high)
Usage Note
A pitch shot differs from a chip shot: a pitch goes high and stops quickly, while a chip stays low and rolls further. The verb can be transitive (pitch + ball) or intransitive (pitch + adverb).
Common Mistakes
pitches — noun
- pitchessingular
- pitchesesplural
1. a marked area of ground where team games such as football, hockey, or rugby are
a marked area of ground where team games such as football, hockey, or rugby are played
The children ran onto the pitch to celebrate their team's win.
Hannah scored twice on the school's newly built football pitch.
football pitch — compound noun for sport field
The heavy rain left the pitch too wet for training that afternoon.
Fans ran onto the pitch right after the final whistle blew.
- football pitch
- hockey pitch
- rugby pitch
- home pitch
- grass pitch
- field
more general term used for any outdoor sports ground
Grammar Patterns
pitch + for + sport
Common Mistakes
2. the level, amount, or strength of an abstract quality such as difficulty, formal
the level, amount, or strength of an abstract quality such as difficulty, formality, or intensity
Finding the right pitch for a training course is harder than it looks.
right pitch — collocation for suitable level
Devika adjusted the pitch of her talk when she noticed the children looked bored.
The pitch of public concern about air pollution has risen in recent years.
pitch of + abstract noun (concern)
Rohan felt the pitch of the conversation was far too formal for a family dinner.
- right pitch
- correct pitch
- wrong pitch
- perfect pitch
Grammar Patterns
pitch + of + noun
Usage Note
Common in the pattern 'pitch of something' to describe the level of an abstract quality. Often used with adjectives: 'right pitch', 'correct pitch', 'wrong pitch'.
Common Mistakes
3. the high degree or extreme intensity of an emotion, state, or activity, especial
the high degree or extreme intensity of an emotion, state, or activity, especially when it becomes very strong
The children's excitement was at fever pitch the night before the trip.
at fever pitch — fixed phrase for extreme excitement
Disappointment among the staff reached such a pitch that several people resigned.
reach such a pitch (that)... — pattern for extreme emotion
Tension in the hall reached a pitch where no one dared to speak.
Selim's frustration grew to such a pitch that he walked out of the office.
- reach a pitch
- fever pitch
- such a pitch
Grammar Patterns
reach such a pitch (that)...
at fever pitch
Usage Note
Typically used in singular with 'reach' or 'grow to' to describe emotions that become extremely strong. 'Fever pitch' is a fixed compound used after 'at' to mean a state of great excitement.
Common Mistakes
4. the quality of a sound that the ear judges as high or low on a musical scale
the quality of a sound that the ear judges as high or low on a musical scale
Amira can hear notes with a very high pitch that others cannot.
high pitch / low pitch — basic collocation for sound
The piano and the violin were tuned to the same pitch for the concert.
Babies can detect small changes in the pitch of their mother's voice.
A dog whistle creates a pitch so high that humans cannot hear it.
pitch so high that — pattern with result clause
- high pitch
- low pitch
- same pitch
- perfect pitch
- change pitch
Grammar Patterns
high pitch
low pitch
same pitch
Common Mistakes
5. a prepared talk or argument aimed at convincing someone to purchase a product, b
a prepared talk or argument aimed at convincing someone to purchase a product, back a plan, or agree to a course of action
Marta prepared a short pitch to convince investors to fund her project.
prepare a pitch — collocation for planning persuasion
The salesman gave his pitch about why the car was a great deal.
Each company had three minutes to make its pitch to the judges.
make a pitch to [audience] — grammatical pattern
Eli's pitch for the new app was so convincing that everyone wanted to try it.
Yara worked on her sales pitch all week before the team meeting.
- sales pitch
- make a pitch
- give a pitch
- prepare a pitch
- pitch for
- proposal
more formal and neutral; less about persuasion than pitch
- appeal
more emotional, often used for charitable or political causes
- presentation
broader term; a presentation may inform without trying to persuade
Grammar Patterns
make a pitch + for + noun
give a pitch + about + noun
Usage Note
Often used in the compound noun 'sales pitch.' Can appear with 'for' (pitch for funding), 'to' (pitch to investors), or 'about' (pitch about a product). 'Make a pitch' is the most common verb collocation.
Common Mistakes
6. a specific location in a street, market, or other public space that a seller or
a specific location in a street, market, or other public space that a seller or performer uses regularly for their work
The flower seller keeps her pitch outside the station every morning.
keep a pitch — collocation for regularly using a spot
Kasia moved her market pitch to a busier street to attract more customers.
Musicians compete for the best pitches near the main city square.
The city charges a small fee for each market pitch in the weekly fair.
market pitch — compound noun for trading location
- market pitch
- regular pitch
- trading pitch
- keep a pitch
Grammar Patterns
pitch + at/outside + location
Usage Note
Primarily British English. In American English 'spot' or 'space' is more common for this meaning. Often used with prepositions of location, such as 'at', 'outside', or 'near'.
Common Mistakes
7. the angle at which a roof or other surface slopes away from the flat ground
the angle at which a roof or other surface slopes away from the flat ground
The old barn had a steep roof pitch to help rain run off quickly.
collocation: steep pitch / gentle pitch / low pitch
Mauricio checked the pitch of the new garage roof before the builders started.
A low roof pitch works well in regions that receive very little snow.
The architect suggested a pitch of thirty degrees for better water drainage.
pitch of [number] degrees
Houses in this mountain village all have roofs with a gentle pitch.
- steep pitch
- gentle pitch
- low pitch
- roof pitch
- pitch of [number] degrees
- flatness
zero degree of slope
Usage Note
Almost always used with a modifier such as steep, gentle, or low. The phrase "pitch of [number] degrees" is common in technical descriptions.
Common Mistakes
8. a thick, dark, sticky substance obtained from coal or wood that people once spre
a thick, dark, sticky substance obtained from coal or wood that people once spread on ships and roofs to stop water from getting in
The old fishing boat had been treated with pitch to stop the wood from rotting.
passive: treated with pitch
Workers heated the pitch in a large pot before spreading it across the roof.
The smell of pitch still hung around the old dockyard near the harbour.
Sailors used pitch to fill the narrow gaps between the wooden planks of their ships.
fill [noun] with pitch
- treat with pitch
- coat with pitch
- heat pitch
- fill with pitch
Usage Note
This sense is largely historical; modern buildings and ships use synthetic sealants. The phrase "pitch-black" (very dark) originally compares to the colour of this substance.
Common Mistakes
9. in baseball, the action of sending the ball from the pitcher toward the player h
in baseball, the action of sending the ball from the pitcher toward the player holding the bat
The pitcher's first pitch flew past the batter at high speed.
collocation: first pitch / last pitch
Sivan watched the baseball game closely, counting every pitch the pitcher threw.
The pitcher threw a fast pitch that the batter could not reach.
collocation: fast pitch / slow pitch / curve pitch
Anya's pitch was so well aimed that the umpire called it a strike.
With a strong pitch, Tariq ended the inning for the opposing team.
- throw a pitch
- first pitch
- fast pitch
- wild pitch
- strike pitch
- throw
general term; pitch is the baseball-specific word for a throw toward the batter
Usage Note
Used only in baseball contexts. The pitcher performs the pitch, and the batter tries to hit it. Different types include fastball, curveball, and slider — each is a kind of pitch.
Common Mistakes
10. a spot within a campsite where someone can set up a tent or park a caravan or mo
a spot within a campsite where someone can set up a tent or park a caravan or motor home
We found a flat pitch near the river and set up our tent there.
collocation: find a pitch / book a pitch
The campsite had twelve pitches, each with its own fire pit and picnic table.
Jisoo booked a pitch at the seaside camp for the summer holiday.
collocation: book a pitch
Hiro drove around looking for a pitch large enough for his family caravan.
- book a pitch
- find a pitch
- pitch a tent on a pitch
- camping pitch
- campsite
the whole camping area; a pitch is one individual spot within a campsite
- camping spot
more general term, used in both British and American English
Usage Note
Common in British English; American English typically uses campsite or camping spot instead. A pitch is one individual space within a larger campsite.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four of these verbs describe sending something through the air with your hand, but each suggests a different degree of force, care, or emotion. 'Pitch' implies a firm, purposeful throw aimed at a specific target or direction — you pitch a stone into a river or pitch a ball to someone. 'Toss' is lighter and more casual: you toss a coin, toss a crumpled paper into the bin, or toss a pillow to a friend. It suggests little force and often a relaxed attitude. 'Hurl' is the most forceful and aggressive: you hurl a rock at a window or hurl insults at someone; it implies great effort or anger. 'Fling' sits between pitch and hurl — it suggests sudden, energetic motion that may be careless or emotional, such as flinging a coat onto a chair or flinging open a door. In everyday conversation, 'throw' works for all of these contexts, but using the more specific verb signals how much force or care is involved.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'pitch' comes from two separate historical roots that merged into a single spelling. The noun meaning 'sticky black substance' (noun sense 8) traces back through Old English 'pic' to Latin 'pix' (genitive 'picis'), meaning 'pitch' or 'tar'. The verb — covering senses of throwing, setting up a tent, sloping, and adjusting musical notes — comes from a different source: Old English 'piccean' (to prick or stab), possibly related to the idea of driving a peg into the ground. By Middle English, 'pichen' meant both 'to thrust in' and 'to set up (a tent)'. From 'setting up' came the idea of 'placing at a particular level' (sense 4 and noun sense 2), and from that, the musical meaning of setting a note at a certain height (sense 5 and noun sense 4). The baseball sense (sense 2) grew out of the general 'throw' meaning, while the sales meaning (sense 6) developed from the idea of 'setting up' a proposal.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined above Verb (2)