clinch
Americanverb (used with object)
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clinches,
present (3rd person singular)
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clinched,
past participle, past
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clinching
present participle
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to settle (a matter) decisively.
After they clinched the deal they went out to celebrate.
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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.
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to fasten (objects) together by nails, screws, etc., secured in this manner.
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Nautical. to fasten by a clinch.
verb (used without object)
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clinches,
present (3rd person singular)
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clinched,
past participle, past
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clinching
present participle
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Boxing. to engage in a clinch.
The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.
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Slang. to embrace, especially passionately.
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(of a clinched nail, screw, etc.) to hold fast; be secure.
noun
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clinches
plural
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the act of clinching.
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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.
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Slang. a passionate embrace.
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a clinched nail or fastening.
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the bent part of a clinched nail, screw, etc.
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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.
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Archaic. a pun.
verb
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(tr) to secure (a driven nail) by bending the protruding point over
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(tr) to hold together in such a manner
to clinch the corners of the frame
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(tr) to settle (something, such as an argument, bargain, etc) in a definite way
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(tr) nautical to fasten by means of a clinch
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(intr) to engage in a clinch, as in boxing or wrestling
noun
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the act of clinching
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a nail with its point bent over
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the part of such a nail, etc, that has been bent over
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boxing wrestling an act or an instance in which one or both competitors hold on to the other to avoid punches, regain wind, etc
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slang a lovers' embrace
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nautical a loop or eye formed in a line by seizing the end to the standing part.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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clinchsimple
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clinchessimple
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have clinchedperfect
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has clinchedperfect
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am clinchingprogressive
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are clinchingprogressive
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is clinchingprogressive
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have been clinchingperfect progressive
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has been clinchingperfect progressive
Past
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clinchedsimple
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had clinchedperfect
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was clinchingprogressive
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were clinchingprogressive
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had been clinchingperfect progressive
Future
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
About 30,000 saw South Korea beat Japan 1-0 to clinch men's football gold, although the occasion was tarnished somewhat when the South Korean flag failed to go up in the victory ceremony.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
The good news quickly dried up for the Dodgers after that, as they fell to the Padres 5-1, missing a chance to clinch a first-round bye with a win.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Carney indicated that some progress had been achieved since then, but not enough to clinch a deal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Kartal delayed defeat by saving three match points and breaking back, but Bouzkova restored her lead immediately to clinch victory after exactly three hours on court to put the Czechs in front.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
It had the effect of a referee’s whistle, separating the combatants from their clinch.
From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman
Dow clinches its worst September start since 2008 as history repeats itself.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Carolina clinches the playoff berth with a victory while the Buccaneers will not necessarily claim the post-season spot with a triumph.
From Barron's ● Jan. 1, 2026
Yet it might also be what clinches five votes against him.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2025
Two-hit shutout in 1-0 win over Birmingham clinches West Valley title for ECR.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2025
Caleb Cartwright raises both hands in a gesture that further clinches his mime thing: black turtleneck, black skinny jeans, black eyeliner, black bowler hat.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
Evans clinched his first WRC stage win in Germany in 2014 and a first podium in Argentina a year later, before having to drop down to the WRC2 class in 2016.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
But speaking in Bangkok after informal closed-door talks with heads of delegations, Cordano said he was hopeful a deal could be clinched at the next official round of negotiations.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
With the Atlanta Braves’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds earlier in the day, the Dodgers clinched the second seed in the National League playoffs and the first-round bye that goes with it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
After Abdul El-Sayed clinched the Democratic nomination for the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
There was little doubt in Mother’s mind, anyway, about what the baby would be named, and Dad clinched the matter by the next remark which he addressed to the baby.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
The Phillies are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
The Dodgers will save the messier celebration for clinching the division.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
But during the Dodgers’ 4-3 loss to the Marlins on Saturday, with the team on the cusp of clinching a playoff berth, he didn’t look like that version of himself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
Egypt believed there were two potential penalty claims in their favour before Enzo Fernandez headed home the clinching goal.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
The clinching evidence comes late, in 1823, when Jefferson responded to a series of letters that appeared in the newspapers.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
