ホームラン

ほーむらん
noun
home run; big hit; major success
1. home run (baseball)
A hit in baseball that allows the batter to round all bases and score. One of the most exciting plays in baseball.
ホームランを打(う)った。
He hit a home run.
満塁(まんるい)ホームランで逆転(ぎゃくてん)した。
They came from behind with a grand slam.
彼(かれ)は今季(こんき)三十本(さんじゅっぽん)のホームランを打(う)って本塁打王(ほんるいだおう)に輝(かがや)いた。
He hit thirty home runs this season and was crowned home run champion.
2. big hit; major success; knockout
Used figuratively to describe a spectacular success or achievement, similar to English 'hitting it out of the park.'
あの企画(きかく)はホームランだった。
That project was a home run.
今回(こんかい)の新商品(しんしょうひん)はホームラン級(きゅう)のヒットだ。
This new product is a blockbuster hit.
ヒットを積(つ)み重(かさ)ねるよりも、一発(いっぱつ)ホームランを狙(ねら)うタイプの経営者(けいえいしゃ)だ。
He's the type of businessman who goes for the big win rather than building up small successes.

A loanword from English, deeply embedded in Japanese culture due to the enormous popularity of baseball in Japan. Also written as 本塁打(ほんるいだ) in formal sports writing.

Common collocations

Cultural note

Baseball (野球(やきゅう)) is Japan's most popular spectator sport. Home run records and home run derbies receive extensive media coverage. The figurative use of ホームラン is very common in business and everyday conversation to describe any outstanding success.

Related Words

Compare: 本塁打(ほんるいだ) (home run)
general
Added 2026.3.31 2:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
20500/20814_hoomuran