change-up

/ˈtʃeɪndʒʌp/

noun

A pitch thrown with the arm motion of a fastball, but which travels at a much slower velocity because it is released without the fingers adding power to the delivery.

“This RFQ is a real change-up.”

Similar
change of pacechange-of-pacechange-of-pace balloff-speed pitch
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Meanings

nounchange-up (plural change-ups)

plural change-ups · alternative changeup

  1. ball gamesA pitch thrown with the arm motion of a fastball, but which travels at a much slower velocity because it is released without the fingers adding power to the delivery.

    The pitcher had a devastating change-up.

    Synonyms: change of pace

  2. broadlyAn unexpected event.

    This RFQ is a real change-up.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA pitch thrown with the arm motion of a fastball, but which travels at a much slower velocity because it is released without the fingers adding power to the delivery.

Similar
change of pace

More synonyms by meaning

nouna baseball thrown with little velocity when the batter is expecting a fastball

Similar
change-of-pacechange-of-pace balloff-speed pitch
Broader
pitchdelivery

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Deverbal from change up.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

change-up. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/change-up

MLA

“change-up.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/change-up. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “change-up,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/change-up.

Source: change-up on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.