wallop

American  

[wol-uhp] / ˈwɒl əp /

verb (used with object)

wallops, present (3rd person singular) walloped, past participle, past walloping present participle

1. to beat soundly; thrash.

2. Informal. to strike with a vigorous blow; belt; sock.

   After two strikes, he walloped the ball out of the park.

3. Informal. to defeat thoroughly, as in a game.

   Synonyms:

   best, crush, rout, trounce

4. Chiefly Scot. to flutter, wobble, or flop about.

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verb (used without object)

wallops, present (3rd person singular) walloped, past participle, past walloping present participle

1. Informal. to move violently and clumsily.

   The puppy walloped down the walk.

2. (of a liquid) to boil violently.

3. Obsolete. to gallop.

noun

1. a vigorous blow.

2. the ability to deliver vigorous blows, as in boxing.

   That fist of his packs a wallop.

3. Informal.

   1. the ability to effect a forceful impression; punch.

      That ad packs a wallop.

   2. a pleasurable thrill; kick.

      The joke gave them all a wallop.

4. Informal. a violent, clumsy movement; lurch.

5. Obsolete. a gallop.

wallop British  

/ ˈwɒləp /

verb

1. informal (tr) to beat soundly; strike hard

2. informal (tr) to defeat utterly

3. dialect (intr) to move in a clumsy manner

4. (intr) (of liquids) to boil violently

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noun

1. informal a hard blow

2. informal the ability to hit powerfully, as of a boxer

3. informal a forceful impression

4. a slang word for beer

verb

1. an obsolete word for gallop

wallop Idioms  

1. see pack a punch (wallop).

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• walloper
  noun
• outwallop
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has walloped
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have walloped
  perfect
• am walloping
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been walloping
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are walloping
  progressive
• have been walloping
  perfect progressive
• is walloping
  progressive 3rd person singular
• wallops
  singular 3rd person
• walloping
  participle

Past

• had walloped
  perfect
• had been walloping
  perfect progressive
• were walloping
  progressive plural
• was walloping
  progressive singular
• walloped
  simple
• walloped
  participle

Future

• will wallop
  simple
• will have walloped
  perfect
• will have been walloping
  perfect progressive
• will be walloping
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of wallop

1300–50; Middle English walopen to gallop, wal ( l ) op gallop < Anglo-French waloper (v.), walop (noun), Old French galoper, galop; see gallop

Explanation

A wallop is a hard punch or another strong hit. A boxer sometimes wins a match with one single, well-aimed wallop to their opponent. A wallop is not just a physical blow, but it can also be a huge effect or impact. A principal's strongly worded lecture to a group of bullies might pack a wallop, for example, resulting in a major change in behavior. Use this word as a verb and it means "punch" or "defeat completely," so you'll frequently hear it in sports reporting: "The Wizards score the last points of the game and wallop the Pacers."

Example Sentences

All the indications are that Maeda will leave Celtic this summer, exiting with a crash, a bang and a wallop.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

They also wallop small businesses, which typically pay tax at their state’s individual rate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

The Getty Museum’s groundbreaking Pride Month show is provocative and important, and the timing packs a wallop.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2025

Even so, the 10th-placed Seagulls are one of those teams where just when you think about writing them off, they will come up with a performance and wallop someone.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2025

These Amoses might look like a bunch of cream puffs but if she was anything like Todd I bet she could pack a real wallop.

From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Related Words

• clobber
• drub
• pummel
• smack
• whack