clinch

American  

[klinch] / klɪntʃ /

verb (used with object)

clinches, present (3rd person singular) clinched, past participle, past clinching present participle

1. to settle (a matter) decisively.

   After they clinched the deal they went out to celebrate.

   Synonyms:

   confirm, conclude, close, secure, cinch

2. to secure (a nail, screw, etc.) in position by beating down the protruding point.

   He drove the nails through the board and clinched the points flat with a hammer.

3. to fasten (objects) together by nails, screws, etc., secured in this manner.

4. Nautical. to fasten by a clinch.

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verb (used without object)

clinches, present (3rd person singular) clinched, past participle, past clinching present participle

1. Boxing. to engage in a clinch.

   The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.

2. Slang. to embrace, especially passionately.

3. (of a clinched nail, screw, etc.) to hold fast; be secure.

noun

clinches plural

1. the act of clinching.

2. Boxing. an act or instance of one or both boxers holding the other about the arms or body in order to prevent or hinder the opponent's punches.

3. Slang. a passionate embrace.

4. a clinched nail or fastening.

5. the bent part of a clinched nail, screw, etc.

6. a knot or bend in which a bight or eye is made by making a loop or turn in the rope and seizing the end to the standing part.

7. Archaic. a pun.

clinch British  

/ klɪntʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to secure (a driven nail) by bending the protruding point over

2. (tr) to hold together in such a manner

   to clinch the corners of the frame

3. (tr) to settle (something, such as an argument, bargain, etc) in a definite way

4. (tr) nautical to fasten by means of a clinch

5. (intr) to engage in a clinch, as in boxing or wrestling

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noun

1. the act of clinching

2. 1. a nail with its point bent over

   2. the part of such a nail, etc, that has been bent over

3. boxing wrestling an act or an instance in which one or both competitors hold on to the other to avoid punches, regain wind, etc

4. slang a lovers' embrace

5. nautical a loop or eye formed in a line by seizing the end to the standing part.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clinchingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clinches
  plural

Participles

• clinching
  present
• clinched
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• clinch
  simple
• clinches
  simple
• have clinched
  perfect
• has clinched
  perfect
• am clinching
  progressive
• are clinching
  progressive
• is clinching
  progressive
• have been clinching
  perfect progressive
• has been clinching
  perfect progressive

Past

• clinched
  simple
• had clinched
  perfect
• was clinching
  progressive
• were clinching
  progressive
• had been clinching
  perfect progressive

Future

• will clinch
  simple
• will have clinched
  perfect
• will be clinching
  progressive
• will have been clinching
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of clinch

First recorded in 1560–70; later variant of Middle English clench

Explanation

When you clinch something, you confirm it, the way you clinch a deal with your brother to trade chores next week by shaking hands on it. The verb clinch arose as a variation of clench, and its original meaning was "fix securely (a driven nail) by bending and beating it back." Out of this sense of securing something physically came the figurative meaning of settling or securing an argument, deal, or bargain. You can also use it as a noun to mean "an embrace or close scuffle," like when a boxing referee pulls fighters out of a clinch.

Example Sentences

The buzz: Germany is already through to the knockout stages while Ecuador could finish second and clinch a spot in the round of 32 with a win coupled with an Ivory Coast loss or draw.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94–90 in game five on Saturday to clinch the title for the first time in more than half a century.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

If the Knicks win this game in the best-of-seven series, they will clinch the championship for the first time in more than 50 years.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

San Antonio's Stephon Castle made a pair of free throws but the Knicks came through, Anunoby rising highest from a scrum of Spurs defenders to clinch the win.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Then, just to show you how crazy I am, when we were coming out of this big clinch, I told her I loved her and all.

From "The Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• assure
• cap
• conclude
• decide
• seal