pitch
pitch — verb
1. to toss something toward a place or mark, or for a person or vehicle to lurch fo
to toss something toward a place or mark, or for a person or vehicle to lurch forward suddenly and lose balance.
Marcus pitched the wet towel into the laundry basket.
transitive: pitch + object + into + place
The fishing boat pitched so hard that plates slid off the shelf.
intransitive: rough forward movement
Rosa pitched three coins onto the paper plate by the door.
pitch at a mark or target
At the last step, the runner pitched forward onto the stone path.
After lunch, Dad pitched the broken toy into the trash bin.
- pitch forward
- pitch into the bin
- pitch onto the plate
- pitch at the target
Grammar Patterns
pitch + [object] into/onto/at + [place/target]
[person/thing] + pitches forward/in the water
Usage Note
Often followed by a direction or place word such as 'into', 'onto', 'at', or 'forward'. In baseball contexts, use sense 2 instead.
Common Mistakes
2. in baseball, to send the ball toward home plate so the batter can swing at it.
in baseball, to send the ball toward home plate so the batter can swing at it.
Elena pitched the first ball straight past the waiting batter.
baseball: pitch + ball + to batter
Our best left-hander pitched for Taipei in all nine innings.
intransitive: pitch for a team
Coach Wu told Noah to pitch low and outside today.
Ben pitched three strikes in a row before the rain came.
Mia will pitch against Kaohsiung on Saturday afternoon.
pitch against + team
- pitch a ball
- pitch a strike
- pitch low and outside
- pitch for Taipei
Grammar Patterns
pitch + [ball/strike] to + [batter]
[player] + pitches for/against + [team]
Usage Note
Only used for baseball. The subject is usually the pitcher or team player, and the thing pitched is the ball or a strike.
Common Mistakes
3. to set a tent in place and secure it for camping or sleeping there.
to set a tent in place and secure it for camping or sleeping there.
We pitched our tent beside the lake before dark.
common collocation: pitch a tent
The scouts pitched two small tents near the pine trees.
Hana pitched a tent while Ken cooked soup by the fire.
By sunset, every family had pitched a tent on the hill.
past perfect with temporary camp
- pitch a tent
- pitch camp
- pitch by the lake
- pitch on the hill
- take down
to remove the tent after using it
Grammar Patterns
pitch + tent
pitch + camp
Usage Note
The object is usually 'tent' or 'camp'. It suggests making temporary shelter, not building something permanent.
Common Mistakes
4. to choose how strong, high, difficult, or expensive something should be.
to choose how strong, high, difficult, or expensive something should be.
The teacher pitched the lesson at a level young children understood.
pitch + lesson at + level
The shop pitched the new phone at a lower price.
pitch + product at + price
The bank pitched its loan rates too high for small farms.
Lena pitched her talk at an easy level for visitors.
The paper pitched the story at readers aged twelve to fifteen.
pitch at a target reading level
- pitch a lesson at
- pitch a price at
- pitch rates high
- pitch a talk at
Grammar Patterns
pitch + [thing] at + [level/price]
pitch + [talk/lesson/story] at + [audience or level]
Usage Note
Often used with 'at' plus a level, price, or audience. Distinguish this sense from sense 5, where the object is a sound, note, or voice.
Common Mistakes
5. to make a voice, musical note, or instrument sound higher or lower.
to make a voice, musical note, or instrument sound higher or lower.
The singer pitched the first note too high for the choir.
pitch + note + high/low
Dad pitched his voice low so the baby stayed asleep.
pitch + voice + low
The band pitched the song higher for Mia's bright voice.
The phone app pitched the guitar a little lower.
pitch + instrument + lower
- pitch a note high
- pitch a voice low
- pitch a song higher
- pitch the guitar lower
Grammar Patterns
pitch + [voice/note/song] + high/low/higher/lower
pitch + [instrument] + higher/lower
Usage Note
Usually used with words like 'voice', 'note', 'song', or 'guitar', followed by 'high', 'low', 'higher', or 'lower'. Distinguish it from sense 4, which is about general level rather than sound.
Common Mistakes
6. to present an idea, product, or plan in a way that tries to make someone accept,
to present an idea, product, or plan in a way that tries to make someone accept, buy, or support it.
Nina pitched her business idea to three investors after lunch.
pitch + idea to + audience
The salesman pitched the new vacuum cleaner at our front door.
sales context: pitch a product
Leo pitched a cartoon series to a TV producer in Seoul.
During the meeting, Carla pitched hard for a later launch date.
intransitive: pitch for support
Small firms pitched for the airport shop contract last month.
- pitch an idea to investors
- pitch a product
- pitch a series to a producer
- pitch for support
Grammar Patterns
pitch + [idea/product/show] to + [person/group]
pitch for + [support/business/change]
Usage Note
Usually used with the thing being promoted as the object: 'pitch an idea to investors'. The object is often an idea, product, plan, show, or deal, not the person.
Common Mistakes
7. to rise or fall at an angle instead of staying flat.
to rise or fall at an angle instead of staying flat.
The barn roof pitches sharply toward the back of the field.
pitch toward + place
Beyond the gate, the garden path pitches down to the river.
pitch down to + place
The old kitchen floor pitches slightly near the sink.
From the church door, the street pitches uphill for two blocks.
pitch uphill
At the cliff edge, the ground pitches steeply into the sea.
- pitch sharply
- pitch steeply
- pitch down to the river
- pitch uphill
- roof pitches toward the yard
Grammar Patterns
pitch down
pitch uphill
pitch toward/away from + place
Usage Note
Subject is usually a surface or piece of land, such as a roof, road, floor, or field. It commonly appears with words like down, uphill, toward, or away from. Distinguish from verb/1, which is about sudden movement or throwing.
Common Mistakes
pitch — noun
1. a marked piece of ground where games such as football, rugby, or cricket are pla
a marked piece of ground where games such as football, rugby, or cricket are played.
Heavy rain left the football pitch muddy before Saturday's match.
football pitch
Parents stood by the fence while the children ran onto the pitch.
run onto the pitch
A worker repainted the white lines across the school pitch.
lines on a pitch
After the final whistle, fans rushed onto the pitch to celebrate.
The coach moved training to the second pitch behind the gym.
- football pitch
- school pitch
- onto the pitch
- white lines on the pitch
Grammar Patterns
on the pitch
run onto the pitch
mark out a pitch
Usage Note
Common with 'on' and 'onto', especially in British sports writing. In many American contexts, 'field' is more usual for the same place.
Common Mistakes
2. the strength, amount, or stage of an activity or situation, especially when it b
the strength, amount, or stage of an activity or situation, especially when it becomes very high.
By Friday, paint, posters, and food orders were at fever pitch.
fixed phrase: at fever pitch
The protest reached such a pitch that shops shut early.
reach such a pitch that
By harvest time, activity on the farm was at its highest pitch.
After the mayor's TV interview, online debate rose to a new pitch.
- at fever pitch
- reach a pitch
- rise to a pitch
- highest pitch
- lull
a quieter or weaker period after strong activity
Grammar Patterns
at fever pitch
reach a pitch
rise to a pitch
Usage Note
Often appears in fixed phrases such as 'at fever pitch' or with verbs like 'rise' and 'reach'. Broader than sense 3, which is limited to feelings.
Common Mistakes
3. how strong a feeling is at a particular time.
how strong a feeling is at a particular time.
By midnight, Lina's worry was at such a pitch she could not sleep.
reach a pitch
Crowd excitement rose to a high pitch as the singer appeared.
rise to a high pitch
After the rude reply, Dana's anger rose to a dangerous pitch.
anger rose to a dangerous pitch
Even quiet Ella's fear was at a dangerous pitch.
- a pitch of anger
- a pitch of fear
- high pitch of excitement
- at a dangerous pitch
- calm
the absence of strong emotional pressure
Grammar Patterns
a pitch of anger/fear
at a high pitch
Usage Note
Usually follows words for emotions such as fear, anger, excitement, or suspense. Distinguish from sense 2, which can describe activity or public interest as well as feelings.
Common Mistakes
4. the place of a voice, sound, or musical note on the scale from low to high.
the place of a voice, sound, or musical note on the scale from low to high.
The violinist checked the pitch of each string before the concert.
the pitch of [sound/note]
A baby's cry has a much higher pitch than a man's voice.
higher pitch
Please sing the first note again at the same pitch.
at the same pitch
The alarm's pitch was so sharp that everyone covered their ears.
The app can change the pitch without slowing the song down.
change the pitch
- high pitch
- low pitch
- perfect pitch
- pitch of the note
Grammar Patterns
high/low pitch
the pitch of [sound/note]
change the pitch
Usage Note
Used for voices, musical notes, alarms, and other sounds. Do not confuse it with volume: pitch is high or low, while volume is loud or quiet.
Common Mistakes
5. a planned talk or display meant to make someone buy something or support an idea
a planned talk or display meant to make someone buy something or support an idea.
The agent ended his pitch by offering free tickets for today.
sales pitch
Nora practised her business pitch before meeting the bank manager.
business pitch
Customers walked away when the street seller started his loud pitch.
Our team gave a short pitch for the new phone app.
pitch for [idea/product]
The charity's pitch asked local shops to sponsor winter coats.
- sales pitch
- business pitch
- give a pitch
- pitch for funding
- presentation
broader and more neutral; not always meant to persuade
- appeal
focuses on asking for support rather than selling
- plug
informal; a short enthusiastic recommendation
Grammar Patterns
give a pitch
sales pitch
pitch for [idea/product]
Usage Note
Often modified by the goal: 'sales pitch', 'business pitch', or 'funding pitch'. Distinguish from sense 6, where 'pitch' means the physical place for selling or performing.
Common Mistakes
6. a fixed outdoor spot used by a trader or street performer.
a fixed outdoor spot used by a trader or street performer.
The flower seller returned to the same pitch outside the station.
a pitch outside [place]
Buskers pay a small fee for a pitch in this square.
pay for a pitch
After lunch, Rosa set up her table on the pitch beside the fountain.
on the pitch
The market gives each fruit seller a numbered pitch.
Tourists stopped when the guitar player sang from his pitch.
- market pitch
- street pitch
- rent a pitch
- pitch outside the station
Grammar Patterns
a pitch outside [place]
rent a pitch
on a pitch
Usage Note
Common with traders, food sellers, and buskers, and often refers to a spot assigned or rented for regular use. Distinguish from sense 5, which is the persuasive talk, not the place.
7. the steepness of a sloping surface, especially a roof.
the steepness of a sloping surface, especially a roof.
The cabin roof has a sharp pitch to shed winter snow.
roof pitch for shedding snow
Builders checked the pitch before adding the new red tiles.
check the pitch of a roof
From the street, the church's steep pitch was clear above nearby shops.
A low pitch gives the porch roof a flatter look.
a low pitch
- roof pitch
- steep pitch
- high pitch
- low pitch
- flatness
a state with little or no slope
Grammar Patterns
the pitch of [roof]
a steep/high/low pitch
Usage Note
Usually used for roofs and similar surfaces, often after of or with adjectives like steep, high, and low. Distinguish from noun/11, which is about throwing rather than angle.
Common Mistakes
8. a thick dark sticky material once spread on wood to keep water out.
a thick dark sticky material once spread on wood to keep water out.
Workers brushed hot pitch onto the boat before the autumn rains.
brush pitch onto a boat
The smell of pitch filled the shed near the old dock.
smell of pitch
Black pitch sealed the cracks between the wooden boards.
pitch sealing wood
Museum staff showed children how pitch protected ships from water.
- hot pitch
- brush on pitch
- smell of pitch
- pitch on the hull
Grammar Patterns
coat [wood/ship] with pitch
smell of pitch
Usage Note
Usually uncountable. Most often seen in historical, building, or ship contexts, not in everyday conversation about modern materials.
Common Mistakes
9. the ball a pitcher sends to a batter in baseball, or one act of doing this.
the ball a pitcher sends to a batter in baseball, or one act of doing this.
The first pitch sailed past the batter and hit the catcher's glove.
first pitch in baseball
On a full count, Elena threw a slow pitch outside.
throw a pitch outside
The coach told Ben to stop chasing every low pitch.
low pitch
That pitch clipped the corner for strike three.
pitch for strike three
- first pitch
- low pitch
- inside pitch
- pitch count
Grammar Patterns
throw a pitch
first/low/inside pitch
Usage Note
Used only in baseball. Distinguish from noun/11, which can describe a more general throw or throwing style outside baseball.
Common Mistakes
10. a set space at a campsite for one tent, caravan, or camper van.
a set space at a campsite for one tent, caravan, or camper van.
We chose a shady pitch beside the river for our tent.
choose a pitch at a campsite
Each pitch has room for one car and a small table.
each pitch has room for
The family paid extra for a pitch with electric power.
a pitch with electric power
Our pitch was near the showers but far from the road.
- book a pitch
- pay for a pitch
- pitch by the river
- pitch with electric power
Grammar Patterns
book/pay for a pitch
a pitch with [feature]
Usage Note
Mainly British in camping contexts. American English more often uses campsite or site for this meaning.
Common Mistakes
11. a throw, or the particular way someone throws a ball or other object.
a throw, or the particular way someone throws a ball or other object.
Jordan's pitch sent the beanbag straight into the red bucket.
one successful pitch
One hard pitch from Mia knocked over the empty bottle.
one hard pitch
At the fair booth, the judge watched each pitch for aim and style.
judge each pitch
Leo used a sidearm pitch to skim the stone across the pond.
a sidearm pitch
- hard pitch
- accurate pitch
- sidearm pitch
- pitch into the target
Grammar Patterns
a hard/soft pitch
a sidearm pitch
Usage Note
Broader than noun/9 because it is not limited to baseball. It often appears when people comment on the force, aim, or style of a throw.
Common Mistakes
To try very hard to get something or to convince someone to support you.
Sara made a pitch for the new project during the meeting.
Did you make a pitch to the investors for more funding?
To cause someone's plans to fail or to ruin their chances of success.
His late arrival queered the pitch for our presentation.
Don't queer my pitch by telling the boss about my mistake.
Word family
- pitchedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/6
All five verbs can involve trying to win support, but they differ in tone and pressure. 'Pitch' is common in business, media, and creative work when you put an idea, product, or plan in front of an audience and try to get a yes. 'Present' is broader and more neutral; you can present facts without pushing hard. 'Promote' focuses on building interest over time, often through repeated marketing. 'Sell' is more direct and often suggests closing a deal or persuading someone completely. 'Plug' is informal and can sound pushy or repetitive. So Nina might pitch a new app to investors, present the budget to the board, promote the launch online, and try to sell the final plan to a doubtful manager.
Etymology
Modern English 'pitch' brings together more than one historical word. The dark sticky substance sense comes from Old English 'pic', which came from Latin 'pix'. Many of the other senses, including setting a tent, throwing toward a point, fixing a level, and later sales or sports uses, developed from a different Middle English verb meaning 'set firmly' or 'thrust into place', probably linked to an older word related to 'pick'. Over time these lines merged in spelling, so one modern form now covers several sense families.