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:
Still, “China is very savvy and is not charging back into the market, buying crude hand over fist, when prices are in triple digits and freight rates are so high.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
“I was terrified,” Manfre said, adding that he believed he saw a shiny metal object in the man’s fist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
Eisenkot vowed to use "an iron fist" against anyone acting outside the law and to prevent settler raids and arson against Palestinians.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
So it's perhaps no surprise that now he appears to have at least an outside chance of making a fist of it, he is not making any presumptions.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
With my cousin’s tiny fist clutching my denim shorts and Emma beside me, we head for the parking lot.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
They delivered a brief eulogy, then pressed their fists to their chests and called out: “Forever in our ranks!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
And then, like Wile E. Coyote, the upset moviegoers will raise their fists again.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
His save from van Hecke's header left head coach Matthias Jaissle clenching his fists on the touchline.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
“If somebody is giving you any kind of stares or conflict, you’ve got to talk to the staff. You can’t use your fists or your feet,” Kaye said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Then he lowered his forehead onto his fists and just stood there.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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
“My parents experienced such loss at the fisted hands of authoritarianism that the American law enforcement officer stood as a tangible symbol of safety and the rule of law in our new home.”
From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 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
Louis built his championship boxing career in Detroit, where they have honored him with a monument known as “The Fist” — a 24-foot-long sculpture with a fisted hand suspended by a 24-foot-high pyramid framework.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 23, 2022
She raises a fisted hand and clutches it to her chest, then beats it three times, saying, “I. Understand. You.”
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
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
Her jaw tightened, her hands fisting in the hem of her shirt.
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
Cardan watches him go, hands fisting at his sides.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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