punch
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈpənch 
1
a
: a tool usually in the form of a short rod of steel that is variously shaped at one end for different operations (such as forming, perforating, embossing, or cutting)
b
: a short tapering steel rod for driving the heads of nails below a surface
c
: a steel die faced with a letter in relief that is forced into a softer metal to form an intaglio matrix from which foundry type is cast
d
: a device or machine for cutting holes or notches (as in paper or cardboard)
e
: a medical instrument used especially to perforate tissue or remove a small, round segment of tissue (such as skin)
a biopsy punch
2
: a hole or notch from a perforating operation
punch
2 of 4verb
punched; punching; punches
transitive verb
1
a
: prod, poke
b
: drive, herd
punching cattle
2
a
: to strike with a forward thrust especially of the fist
b
: to drive or push forcibly by or as if by a punch
c
: to hit (a ball) with less than a full swing
3
: to emboss, cut, perforate, or make with or as if with a punch
4
a
: to push down so as to produce a desired result
punch buttons on a jukebox
b
: to hit or press down the operating mechanism of
punch a typewriter
c
: to insert a time card into (a time clock)
d
: to produce by or as if by punching keys
punch out a tune on the piano
e
: to enter (something, such as data) by punching keys
5
: to give emphasis to
intransitive verb
1
: to perform the action of punching something
2
: to move or push forward especially by a sudden forceful effort
punched into enemy territory
puncher noun
punch
3 of 4noun (2)
1
: the action of punching
2
: a quick blow with or as if with the fist
3
: effective energy or forcefulness
a story that packs a punch
political punch
punchless
ˈpənch-ləs
adjective punch
4 of 4noun (3)
: a hot or cold drink that is usually a combination of hard liquor, wine, or beer and nonalcoholic beverages
also : a drink that is a mixture of nonalcoholic beverages
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- perforation
- pinhole
- pinprick
- prick
- puncture
- stab
Verb
- bang
- bash
- bat
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Noun (2)
- cogency
- effectiveness
- force
- forcefulness
- impact
- point
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He punched me in the face. She punched him on the chin. He quickly punched the buttons on his telephone. She punched an opening through the dough with her finger. The tool punches holes in paper.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English pounce, punche, probably alteration of ponson, ponchon puncheon
Verb
Middle English pouncen, punchen to emboss, pierce, probably from pounce, noun
Noun (3)
perhaps from Hindi & Urdu pā̃c five, from Sanskrit pañca; akin to Greek pente five; from its originally having five ingredients — more at five
First Known Use
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (3)
1600, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing punch
Kids Definition
punch 1 of 4
verb
ˈpənch
punched; punching
1
: to strike with the fist
2
: to sharply press or poke
She punched the keys on her computer.
3
: to make (a hole) by pressing into or through something
4
: to make a hole in with a punch
punch
2 of 4noun
: a drink usually containing different fruit juices
punch
3 of 4noun
: a blow with or as if with the fist
punch
4 of 4noun
: a tool for piercing, stamping, or cutting
Medical Definition
punch
noun
ˈpənch
: a medical instrument used especially to perforate tissue or remove a small, round segment of tissue (such as skin)
a biopsy punch
punches 1 of 3
verb
1
as in slaps
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner after the man had punched the bartender for eighty-sixing him, bouncers stepped in and restrained him until the police could arrive Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- slaps
- hits
- knocks
- smacks
- bangs
- claps
- slams
- whacks
- strikes
- swipes
- clips
- pounds
- kicks
- jabs
- cracks
- bats
- bashes
- thumps
- shoves
- taps
- boxes
- hammers
- thwacks
- nails
- swats
- pokes
- licks
- bludgeons
- flicks
- pushes
- chops
- wallops
- socks
- stabs
- clocks
- slugs
- belts
- tags
- zaps
- bobs
- bops
- clouts
- raps
- biffs
- bonks
- pastes
- smites
- strokes
- bumps
- busts
- whales
- clobbers
- beats
- stamps
- cuffs
- mauls
- slashes
- pummels
- batters
- slogs
- peppers
- knees
- laces
- butts
- pelts
- whips
- lashes
- roughs
- hangs one on
- buffets
- jostles
- bunts
- dumps
- mangles
- scuffs
- flails
- prods
- pommels
- spears
- bungs
- switches
- decks
- creams
- canes
- drubs
- sledgehammers
- sucker punches
- fells
- skulls
- sledges
- thrashes
- conks
- clubs
- brains
- saps
- cudgels
- knocks down
- lambasts
- levels
- beans
- floors
- lambastes
- flogs
- rabbit-punches
- bowls (down or over)
2
as in drills
to make a hole or series of holes in punch a ticket Synonyms & Similar Words
- drills
- pierces
- holes
- pokes
- punctures
- taps
- cuts
- perforates
- bores
- riddles
- slashes
- pricks
- breaks
- penetrates
- broaches
- gouges
- prickles
- slits
- splits
- grooves
- notches
- hollows
- gashes
- ruptures
- rends
- excavates
- burrows (into)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- plugs
- fills
- seals
- patches
3
as in drives
to urge, push, or force onward cowboys punching cattle Synonyms & Similar Words
- drives
- runs
- herds
- whips
- shepherds
- presses
- eggs
- pricks
- spurs
- prods
- prompts
- goads
- hounds
- wrangles
- scourges
- exhorts
- flogs
punches
2 of 3noun (1)
as in blows
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument the poor palooka wasn't able to land a single punch on his opponent Synonyms & Similar Words
- blows
- slaps
- swipes
- hits
- thuds
- thumps
- knocks
- whacks
- strokes
- pounds
- pokes
- smacks
- licks
- spanks
- bangs
- beats
- slams
- hooks
- claps
- clips
- haymakers
- kicks
- swats
- chops
- hands
- cuffs
- switches
- lashes
- belts
- socks
- thwacks
- biffs
- pelts
- smashes
- bops
- bashes
- knees
- wallops
- whams
- picks
- counterpunches
- fillips
- stripes
- raps
- slugs
- hacks
- welts
- bats
- boxes
- stingers
- clouts
- buffets
- swings
- dabs
- lickings
- cracks
- plumps
- whaps
- uppercuts
- busts
- beatings
- douses
- whops
- counters
- lefts
- larrups
- roundhouses
- shivers
- whips
- counterblows
- knockdowns
- rights
- counterstrokes
- body blows
- counter-blows
- rabbit punches
- sucker punches
- whippings
- counter-strokes
- batterings
- one-twos
- knockouts
- thrashings
- sidewinders
- crunchers
- drubbings
- KOs
- bastinadoes
- kayos
- pastings
- right-handers
- bastinades
- wallopings
punches
3 of 3noun (2)
as in punctures
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument old computers used to get information by reading the punches on a series of cards Synonyms & Similar Words
- punctures
- tears
- stabs
- pricks
- cuts
- slits
- perforations
- pinholes
- grooves
- slashes
- pinpricks
- rips
- gouges
- breaks
- lacerations
- hollows
- notches
- ruptures
- rents
- incisions
- gashes