- 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:
We just walked away and did that silent fist bump together, which made it into the movie.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Seriously though, I wish him well and I genuinely hope for East Anglia that Ipswich can make a decent fist of it and stay up.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Showing off one truck, Kuniskis pumped his fist and revved the engine before a crowd of enthusiasts and content creators.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
It could have been worse for Mayo, who breathed a sigh of relief when Sean O'Brien shot wide after receiving a Sean O'Shea fist pass and turning sharply to outfox his marker Bob Tuohy.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
But then he shocked me and balled his hand into a fist, successfully hiding the envelope.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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
They stood shoulder to shoulder, raising their fists and chanting that they were prepared to defend the school "with body and soul".
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
And then, like Wile E. Coyote, the upset moviegoers will raise their fists again.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
Then he turned to the visitors dugout, grinned and lifted both fists above his head.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Cassiopeia rubbed both eyes vigorously with her fists.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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
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
Trailing 4-1, Taylor led off with a single, Sheldon Neuse struck out and the left-handed-hitting Lux, with the infield shifted, fisted a grounder to third for an infield single off Seattle starter Yusei Kikuchi.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2021
Clarke holding the hat, with me standing nearby, my hands fisted at my chest.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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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