- a variation of feist.
fist
1 Americannoun
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the hand closed tightly, with the fingers doubled into the palm.
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Informal. the hand.
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Informal. a person's handwriting.
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Printing. index.
verb (used with object)
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fists,
present (3rd person singular)
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fisted,
past participle, past
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fisting
present participle
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to make (one's hand) into a fist.
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to grasp in the fist.
noun
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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fistsimple
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fistssimple
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have fistedperfect
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has fistedperfect
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am fistingprogressive
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are fistingprogressive
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is fistingprogressive
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have been fistingperfect progressive
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has been fistingperfect progressive
Past
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fistedsimple
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had fistedperfect
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was fistingprogressive
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were fistingprogressive
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had been fistingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of fist
before 900; Middle English; Old English fȳst; cognate with German Faust fist; perhaps akin to five
Explanation
Want to hit a punching bag? First you need to curl your fingers into your palm to make a fist, or a clenched hand. You might make a fist and bump it against your friend's as a greeting, or use it to clutch something tightly: "She held the balloon in one fist, and an ice cream cone in the other." Fists are also used to punch hard, and a fist fight is a serious physical altercation. When we trace this word back to its origin, we find a closely related root meaning "five," for the five fingers of a hand.
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:
“He’s an idiot,” Putin said, banging his fist on the table.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
“When we previs, we have to be clear where everyone is going to be because when we start to throw a fist, there’s no stopping it,” notes Fitzgerald.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Skubal skipped backward off the mound and buried his fist in the pocket of his glove in celebration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
"Let me tell you, Mariusz Wach would put his fist through Joshua's opponent, whoever he is," Fury said.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Mr. Garner slammed his fist on the table.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
And then, like Wile E. Coyote, the upset moviegoers will raise their fists again.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
No wonder Jaissle clenched his fists on the touchline after Hornicek got a strong hand behind Jan Paul van Hecke's header.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
But in Monday’s game, the Sparks could only cling to the game with clenched fists as the gap widened.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
That followed a draw against Canada during which the goalkeeper went out to clear a ball with his fists and clocked a Canadian.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
The shouting feels like fists, but I am not going to be hurt by this, NOT ONE BIT, so I sit up, face the door.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
With the always-excellent Paudie Clifford influential early on, Kerry feasted on Mayo nerves to register the game's three opening scores, with David Clifford striking twice after Dylan Casey fisted over the bar.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
Donnarumma was at fault for the opening goal when he fisted Lamina’s cross down the middle of the penalty area and was then stranded when Raphinha shot first time.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 10, 2024
The Angels scored twice in the first inning when Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon singled, Jared Walsh fisted a run-scoring single to shallow left and Rendon scored on a passed ball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2022
Their heads snapped right and left as punches landed, and their coaches called out the kind of direction that has echoed through gyms going back to the days when people fought bare fisted.
From New York Times ● Aug. 18, 2021
Valerian looks furious, his hands fisted at his sides in mute rage.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Sabathia nicked Benintendi on the bicep with the first pitch of the third inning, and Pearce followed by fisting a 2-2 cutter to center field that sent Benintendi to third.
From New York Times ● Oct. 10, 2018
Pakistan goalkeeper Muzammil Hussain made some fine saves, fisting off attempts by India captain Sunil Chhetri, Thongkhosiem Haokip and Francis Fernandes.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 20, 2014
Conger scored on Aybar's groundout and Mike Trout delivered the tying run, fighting off a 2-2 pitch and fisting it over the head of first baseman Pearce for an RBI single.
From Seattle Times ● May 4, 2013
Cardan watches him go, hands fisting at his sides.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Her jaw tightened, her hands fisting in the hem of her shirt.
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
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.
