Walk
In baseball and softball, the award of first base to a batter who receives four balls, also called a base on balls.
Definition
A walk — officially a base on balls — is awarded when a pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone that the batter does not swing at, letting the batter advance to first base without being put out. It is one of the most common ways to reach base and reflects the strategic contest between pitcher and hitter over the edges of the strike zone.
An intentional walk is a deliberate choice to give a dangerous hitter first base rather than pitch to them, and in many leagues it can now be signalled without throwing any pitches. The baseball 'walk' is unrelated to basketball's informal use of 'walking' for a travelling violation, which concerns illegal footwork rather than reaching base.
Meaning by sport
This term is used differently across sports:
- Baseball
- A base on balls — the batter is awarded first base after four balls.
- Softball
- A base on balls awarding the batter first base after four balls.
- Basketball
- An informal term for a travelling violation ('walking').
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- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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