Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense punches, present participle punching, past tense, past participle punched
1. verb
If you punch someone or something, you hit them hard with your fist.
After punching him on the chin she wound up hitting him over the head. [VERB noun]
He punched the wall angrily, then spun round to face her. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: hit, strike, box, smash More Synonyms of punch
In American English, punch out means the same as punch.
'I almost lost my job today.'—'What happened?'—'Oh, I punched out this guy.'. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
In the past, many kids would settle disputes by punching each other out. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
Punch is also a noun.
He was hurting Johansson with body punches in the fourth round.
puncherWord forms: plural puncherscountable noun
...the awesome range of blows which have confirmed him as boxing's hardest puncher.
2. verb
If you punch the air, you put one or both of your fists forcefully above your shoulders as a gesture of delight or victory.
At the end, Graf punched the air in delight, a huge grin on her face. [VERB noun]
3. verb
If you punch something such as the buttons on a keyboard, you touch them in order to store information on a machine such as a computer or to give the machine a command to do something.
Mrs. Baylor strode to the elevator and punched the button. [VERB noun]
4. verb
If you punch holes in something, you make holes in it by pushing or pressing it with something sharp.
I took a ballpoint pen and punched a hole in the carton. [VERB noun + in]
Synonyms: pierce, cut, bore, drill More Synonyms of punch
5. countable noun
A punch is a tool that you use for making holes in something.
Make two holes with a hole punch.
6. uncountable noun
If you say that something has punch, you mean that it has force or effectiveness.
My nervousness made me deliver the vital points of my address without sufficientpunch.
Hurricane Andrew may be slowly losing its punch, but its winds are still around 100miles an hour.
7. variable noun
Punch is a drink made from wine or spirits mixed with things such as sugar, lemons, and spices.
8.
See to pull your punches
9. to pack a punch
Phrasal verbs:
See punch in
More Synonyms of punch
punch in British English1
(pʌntʃ)
verb
1.
to strike blows (at), esp with a clenched fist
2. (transitive) Western US
to herd or drive (cattle), esp for a living
3. (transitive)
to poke or prod with a stick or similar object
4. punch above one's weight
noun
5.
a blow with the fist
6. informal
telling force, point, or vigour
his arguments lacked punch
7. pull one's punches
Derived forms
puncher (ˈpuncher)
noun
Word origin
C15: perhaps a variant of pounce2
punch in British English2
(pʌntʃ)
noun
1.
a tool or machine for piercing holes in a material
2.
any of various tools used for knocking a bolt, rivet, etc, out of a hole
3.
a tool or machine used for stamping a design on something or shaping it by impact
4.
the solid die of a punching machine for cutting, stamping, or shaping material
5. computing
a device, such as a card punch or tape punch, used for making holes in a card or paper tape
6. centre punch
verb
7. (transitive)
to pierce, cut, stamp, shape, or drive with a punch
Word origin
C14: shortened from puncheon, from Old French ponçon; see puncheon2
punch in British English3
(pʌntʃ)
noun
any mixed drink containing fruit juice and, usually, alcoholic liquor, generally hot and spiced
Word origin
C17: perhaps from Hindi pānch, from Sanskrit pañca five; the beverage originally included five ingredients
Punch in British English
(pʌntʃ)
noun
the main character in the traditional children's puppet show Punch and Judy
Punch in American English
(pʌntʃ)
noun
the male character of the puppet show Punch and Judy, a hook-nosed, humpbacked figure
Idioms:
pleased as Punch
Word origin
contr. after Punchinello, earlier Polichinello, a character in a Neapolitan puppet play < It Pulcinella < VL *pullicinus < LL pullicenus, young chicken, dim. of L pullus: see poultry
punch in American English1
(pʌntʃ)
noun
1.
a.
a tool driven or pressed against a surface that is to be stamped, pierced, etc.
b.
a tool driven against a nail, bolt, etc. that is to be worked in, or against a pin that is to be worked out
2.
a device or machine for making holes, cuts, etc.
a paper punch
3.
the hole, cut, etc. made with a punch
verb transitive
4.
to pierce, shape, stamp, cut, etc. with a punch
5.
to make (a hole, cut, etc.) with or as with a punch
Word origin
prob. < var. of ponchon: see puncheon1
punch in American English2
(pʌntʃ)
verb transitive
1.
to prod or poke with a stick
2. US
to herd or drive (cattle)
3.
to strike with the fist
4.
to depress or push (a push button, a key on a keypad, etc.)
noun
5.
a thrusting blow with the fist
6. US, Informal
effective force; vigor
Idioms:
beat to the punch
pull one's punches
punch a (time) clock
punch in
punch out
punch up
Word origin
ME punchen, orig. var. of pouncen (see pounce1): infl. by punch1
punch in American English3
(pʌntʃ)
noun
a sweetened drink made with fruit juices, carbonated beverages, sherbet, etc., often mixed with wine or liquor, and served in cups from a large bowl
Word origin
Hindi pañca, five < Sans páñca (see five): it orig. consisted of five ingredients
More idioms containing
punch
pack a punch
pleased as punch
punch above your weight
punch your weight
Examples of 'punch' in a sentence
punch
She also suffered internal bleeding from being punched and kicked.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He said that he left when he was punched in the face by a police officer after being caught under a lorry.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This was the punch line: the audience roared with laughter.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I like that they can still punch their weight.
The Sun (2017)
He is happy to take a punch to deliver one of his own, knowing it will be heavier.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was a glorious swansong, and her enormous grin and triumphant punching of the air as she mounted the podium were deliciously infectious.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
West Ham then suffered two sucker punches in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The little club from Hertfordshire are up to their old tricks - punching well above their weight and sitting comfortably in the top half.
The Sun (2016)
It is certain that the force of the punch was such as to render him unconscious.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Right fist punch with dynamic resistance for a count of three.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And the liturgical drama still carries a punch.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He then punched holes in the metal so it could be bolted together in various designs.
The Sun (2013)
The curses were followed by blows and punches.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We also punch above our weight in health aid.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They wear apologetic grins and try not to punch the air at the thought of their billing.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Make a fruit punch that delivers its flavours layer by layer.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The point of a parable is like the punch line of a joke.
Christianity Today (2000)
These turn out to be made from punched pattern cards of the kind used in textile mills.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Britain has long punched well above its weight in global science.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He suddenly turned round and punched me hard in the stomach.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Last season we almost exchanged punches.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They were punches to the body.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Remains pretty approachable, and keeps the alcoholic punch of a good wine.
Lockspeiser, Jerry & Gear, Jackie Thorsons Organic Wine Guide (1991)
The audience takes almost as many punches as Billy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They also, thankfully, pack a mean punch.
The Sun (2009)
We did not have the blessings of the abbot to punch - only passive defence - but it was enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Word lists with
punch
cocktail, tool
In other languages
punch
British English: punch /pʌntʃ/ NOUN
blow A punch is a blow with the fist.
He was hurting Johansson with body punches in the fourth round.
American English: punch blow
Arabic: لَكْمَة
Brazilian Portuguese: murro
Chinese: 拳打
Croatian: udarac
Czech: rána pěstí
Danish: slag
Dutch: vuistslag
European Spanish: puñetazo
Finnish: punssi
French: coup de poing
German: Punsch
Greek: γροθιά
Italian: pugno
Japanese: パンチ 飲み物
Korean: 한 대 치기
Norwegian: punsj
Polish: poncz gorący napój
European Portuguese: ponche
Romanian: pumn
Russian: удар кулаком
Latin American Spanish: ponche
Swedish: toddy
Thai: การชก
Turkish: panç
Ukrainian: удар
Vietnamese: cú đấm
British English: punch /pʌntʃ/ NOUN
drinkPunch is a drink usually made from wine or spirits mixed with sugar, fruit, and spices.
...a bowl of punch.
American English: punch hot drink
Arabic: مَزِيجٌ مِنْ مَشْرُوبَاتٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ
Brazilian Portuguese: ponche
Chinese: 混合饮料
Croatian: punč
Czech: punč
Danish: punch
Dutch: punch
European Spanish: ponche
Finnish: tälli
French: punch
German: Faustschlag
Greek: γροθιά
Italian: punch
Japanese: パンチ 殴打
Korean: 펀치
Norwegian: knyttneveslag
Polish: uderzenie pięścią uderzenie
European Portuguese: murro
Romanian: punci
Russian: пунш
Latin American Spanish: puñetazo
Swedish: slag knytnävsslag
Thai: เครื่องดื่มผสมที่มีน้ำผลไม้และเหล้า
Turkish: yumruk
Ukrainian: пунш
Vietnamese: rượu mạnh pha đường, trái cây, gia vị
British English: punch /pʌntʃ/ VERB
If you punch someone or something, you hit them hard with your fist.
After punching him on the chin, she wound up hitting him over the head.
American English: punch
Arabic: يَضْرِبُ
Brazilian Portuguese: esmurrar
Chinese: 拳打
Croatian: udariti
Czech: udeřit pěstí
Danish: slå
Dutch: slaan
European Spanish: dar un puñetazo
Finnish: pamauttaa
French: donner un coup de poing
German: boxen
Greek: γρονθοκοπώ
Italian: dare un pugno
Japanese: げんこつをくらわす
Korean: 한 대 치다
Norwegian: stanse ut
Polish: uderzyć pięścią
European Portuguese: esmurrar
Romanian: a lovicu pumnul
Russian: наносить удары кулаком
Latin American Spanish: dar un puñetazo
Swedish: slå smälla till
Thai: ชก
Turkish: yumruklamak
Ukrainian: бити
Vietnamese: đấm
Chinese translation of 'punch'
punch
(pʌntʃ)
n
(c) (= blow) 拳打 (quándǎ) (顿, dùn)
(u) (fig, = force) 力量 (lìliàng)
(c) (= tool) (for making holes) 打孔器 (dǎkǒngqì) (个(個), gè)
(c/u) (= drink) 混合饮(飲)料 (hùnhé yǐnliào) (杯, bēi)
vt
(= hit) 用拳打击(擊) (yòng quán dǎjī)
[button, keyboard]敲击(擊) (qiāojī)
(= make a hole in)[ticket, paper]在 ... 上打孔 (zài ... shang dǎkǒng)
he didn't pull his or any punches他直言不讳(諱) (tā zhí yán bù huì)
to punch sb on the nose/in the eye拳打某人的鼻子/眼睛 (quándǎ mǒurén de bízi/yǎnjīng)
to punch a hole in sth在某物上打孔 (zài mǒuwù shang dǎkǒng)
All related terms of 'punch'
punch in
敲入 qiāorù
punch-up
打架 dǎjià
punch out
( hit ) 拳打 quándǎ
to punch a hole in sth
在某物上打孔 zài mǒuwù shang dǎkǒng
to punch sb on the nose/in the eye
拳打某人的鼻子/眼睛 quándǎ mǒurén de bízi/yǎnjīng
(verb)
Definition
to strike at with a clenched fist
After punching him on the chin, she hit him over the head.
Synonyms
hit
She hit him hard across his left arm.
strike
She took two steps forward and struck him across the mouth.
box
They slapped my face and boxed my ears.
smash
belt (informal)
Is it true that she belted George in the stomach?
slam
plug (slang)
bash (informal)
My mother bashed her shin with a suitcase.
sock (slang, old-fashioned)
clout (informal)
The officer clouted him on the head.
slug (old-fashioned)
swipe (informal)
biff (rare)
bop (informal)
wallop (informal)
She walloped me over the head with a cushion.
pummel
He trapped Conn in a corner and pummelled him ferociously.
1 (noun)
Definition
a blow with the fist
He's asking for a punch on the nose.
Synonyms
blow
He went off to hospital after a blow to the face.
hit
a hit on the head
knock
He had taken a knock on the head in training.
bash (informal)
She gave him a bash on the head.
plug (slang)
sock (slang)
thump
He felt a thump on his shoulder.
clout (informal)
I was half tempted to give them a clout myself.
jab
He gave me a jab in the side.
swipe (informal)
He gave Andrew a swipe on the ear.
biff (rare)
bop (informal)
wallop (informal)
With a single wallop, Clarke sent him flying.
2 (noun)
Definition
point or vigour
(informal)
The film lacks punch and pace.
Synonyms
effectiveness
force
He changed our world through the force of his ideas.
bite
The novel seems to lack bite and tension.
impact
The car was destroyed on impact.
point
drive
He is best remembered for his drive and enthusiasm.
vigour
He lacks the vigour of a normal, healthy teenager.
He played with great vigour.
verve
He played with great style and verve.
forcefulness
(verb)
Definition
to pierce, cut, stamp, shape, or drive with a punch
I took a pen and punched holes in the carton.
Synonyms
pierce
Pierce the skin of the potato with a fork.
cut
Thieves cut a hole in the fence.
Cut the branches back with a saw.
bore
Get the special drill bit to bore the correct-size hole.
drill
I drilled five holes at equal distance.
pink
stamp
puncture
The bullet punctured his stomach.
prick
She pricked her finger with a needle.
perforate
The table was perforated by a series of small holes.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bash
Definition
to strike violently or crushingly
My mother bashed her shin with a suitcase.
Synonyms
hit,
break,
beat,
strike,
knock,
smash,
punch,
belt (informal),
crush,
deck (slang),
batter,
slap,
sock (slang),
chin (slang),
smack,
thump,
clout (informal),
whack (informal),
biff (slang),
clobber (slang),
wallop (informal),
slosh (British, slang),
tonk (informal),
lay one on (slang),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of bash
Definition
a heavy blow
She gave him a bash on the head.
Synonyms
knock,
stroke,
punch,
belt (informal),
bang,
rap,
sock (slang),
smack,
thump,
buffet,
clout (informal),
clump (slang),
whack (informal),
wallop (informal),
slosh (British, slang),
tonk (informal),
clomp (slang)
in the sense of belt
Definition
to give (someone) a sharp blow
Is it true that she belted George in the stomach?
Synonyms
strike,
beat,
punch,
deck (slang),
bang,
bash (informal),
sock (slang),
smack,
thump,
clout (informal),
whack,
thud,
clobber (slang),
wallop (informal),
thwack,
lay one on (slang),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
Synonyms of 'punch'
punch
Explore 'punch' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bite
The novel seems to lack bite and tension.
Synonyms
edge,
interest,
force,
punch (informal),
sting,
zest,
sharpness,
keenness,
pungency,
incisiveness,
acuteness
in the sense of bore
Definition
to produce (a tunnel, mine shaft, etc.) by drilling
Get the special drill bit to bore the correct-size hole.
Synonyms
drill,
mine,
sink,
tunnel,
pierce,
penetrate,
burrow,
puncture,
perforate,
gouge out
in the sense of box
Definition
to hit (esp. a person's ears) with the fist
They slapped my face and boxed my ears.
Synonyms
punch,
hit,
strike,
belt (informal),
deck (slang),
slap,
sock (slang),
buffet,
clout (informal),
cuff,
whack (informal),
wallop (informal),
chin (slang),
tonk (informal),
thwack (informal),
lay one on (slang)
in the sense of clout
Definition
to hit hard
The officer clouted him on the head.
Synonyms
hit,
strike,
punch,
deck (slang),
slap,
sock (slang),
chin (slang),
smack,
thump,
cuff,
clobber (slang),
wallop (informal),
box,
wham,
tonk (informal),
lay one on (slang),
skelp (dialect)
in the sense of clout
Definition
a fairly hard blow
I was half tempted to give them a clout myself.
Synonyms
thump,
blow,
crack (informal),
punch,
slap,
sock (slang),
cuff,
wallop (informal),
tonk (informal),
skelp (dialect)
in the sense of cut
Definition
(of a sharp instrument) to penetrate or open up (a person or thing)
Thieves cut a hole in the fence.Cut the branches back with a saw.
Synonyms
slit,
saw,
score,
nick,
slice,
slash,
pierce,
hack,
penetrate,
notch
in the sense of drill
Definition
to bore a hole in (something) with or as if with a drill
I drilled five holes at equal distance.
Synonyms
bore,
pierce,
penetrate,
sink in,
puncture,
perforate
in the sense of drive
Definition
energy, ambition, or initiative
He is best remembered for his drive and enthusiasm.
Synonyms
initiative,
push (informal),
energy,
enterprise,
ambition,
pep,
motivation,
zip (informal),
vigour,
welly (slang),
get-up-and-go (informal)
in the sense of force
Definition
intellectual or moral influence
He changed our world through the force of his ideas.
Synonyms
influence,
power,
effect,
authority,
weight,
strength,
punch (informal),
significance,
effectiveness,
validity,
efficacy,
soundness,
persuasiveness,
cogency,
bite
in the sense of impact
Definition
the act of one object striking another
The car was destroyed on impact.
Synonyms
collision,
force,
contact,
shock,
crash,
knock,
stroke,
smash,
bump,
thump,
jolt
Additional synonyms
in the sense of jab
Definition
a sharp poke
He gave me a jab in the side.
Synonyms
poke,
dig,
punch,
thrust,
tap,
stab,
nudge,
prod,
lunge
in the sense of knock
He had taken a knock on the head in training.
Synonyms
blow,
hit,
punch,
crack (informal),
belt (informal),
clip,
slap,
bash,
smack,
thump,
clout (informal),
cuff,
box
in the sense of perforate
Definition
to make a hole or holes in
The table was perforated by a series of small holes.
Synonyms
pierce,
hole,
bore,
punch,
drill,
penetrate,
puncture,
honeycomb
in the sense of pink
Definition
to cut with pinking shears
Synonyms
cut,
score,
punch,
notch,
prick,
scallop,
perforate,
incise
in the sense of prick
Definition
to pierce lightly with a sharp point
She pricked her finger with a needle.
Synonyms
pierce,
stab,
puncture,
bore,
pink,
punch,
lance,
jab,
perforate,
impale
in the sense of pummel
Definition
to strike repeatedly with the fists
He trapped Conn in a corner and pummelled him ferociously.
Synonyms
beat,
punch,
pound,
strike,
knock,
belt (informal),
hammer,
bang,
batter,
thump,
clobber (slang),
lambast(e),
beat the living daylights out of,
rain blows upon,
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of puncture
Definition
to pierce a hole in (something) with a sharp object
The bullet punctured his stomach.
Synonyms
pierce,
cut,
nick,
penetrate,
prick,
rupture,
perforate,
impale,
bore a hole (in)
in the sense of strike
Definition
to hit (someone)
She took two steps forward and struck him across the mouth.
Synonyms
hit,
smack,
thump,
pound,
beat,
box,
knock,
punch,
hammer,
deck (slang),
slap,
sock (slang),
chin (slang),
buffet,
clout (informal),
cuff,
clump (slang),
swipe,
clobber (slang),
smite,
wallop (informal),
lambast(e),
lay a finger on (informal),
lay one on (slang),
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
in the sense of swipe
Definition
a hard blow
He gave Andrew a swipe on the ear.
Synonyms
blow,
slap,
smack,
clip (informal),
thump,
clout (informal),
cuff,
clump (slang),
wallop (informal)
in the sense of thump
Definition
a heavy blow with the hand
He felt a thump on his shoulder.
Synonyms
blow,
knock,
punch,
rap,
smack,
clout (informal),
whack,
swipe (informal),
wallop (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of verve
Definition
great enthusiasm or liveliness
He played with great style and verve.
Synonyms
enthusiasm,
energy,
spirit,
life,
force,
punch (informal),
dash,
pep,
sparkle,
zip (informal),
vitality,
animation,
vigour,
zeal,
gusto,
welly (slang),
get-up-and-go (informal),
élan,
brio,
vivacity,
liveliness,
vim
in the sense of vigour
Definition
physical or mental energy
He lacks the vigour of a normal, healthy teenager.He played with great vigour.