punch

[ puhnch ]

/ pʌntʃ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for punch on Thesaurus.com

noun

a thrusting blow, especially with the fist.

forcefulness, effectiveness, or pungency in content or appeal; vigor; zest: a letter to voters that needs more punch.

verb (used with object)

to give a sharp thrust or blow to, especially with the fist.

Western U.S. and Western Canada. to drive (cattle).

to poke or prod, as with a stick.

Informal. to deliver (lines in a play, a musical passage, or the like) with vigor.

to strike or hit in operating: to punch the typewriter keys.

to put into operation with or as if with a blow: to punch a time clock.

Baseball. to hit (the ball) with a short, chopping motion rather than with a full swing: He punched a soft liner just over third base for a base hit.

verb (used without object)

to give a sharp blow to a person or thing, as with the fist: The boxer punches well.

Verb Phrases

punch away, Informal. to keep trying or working, especially in difficult or discouraging circumstances; persevere: punching away at the same old job.

punch in,

to record one's time of arrival at work by punching a time clock.
to keyboard (information) into a computer: to punch in the inventory figures.

punch out,

to record one's time of departure from work by punching a time clock.
Slang. to beat up or knock out with the fists.
to extract (information) from a computer by the use of a keyboard: to punch out data on last week's sales.
to bail out; eject from an aircraft.

punch up,

to call up (information) on a computer by the use of a keyboard: to punch up a list of hotel reservations.
Informal. to enliven, as with fresh ideas or additional material: You'd better punch up that speech with a few jokes.

OTHER WORDS FOR punch

3 strike, hit; drub, pummel.

See synonyms for punch on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about punch

pull punches,

to lessen deliberately the force of one's blows.
Informal. to act with restraint or hold back the full force or implications of something: He wasn't going to pull any punches when he warned them of what they would be up against.

roll with the punches, Informal. to cope with and survive adversity: In the business world you quickly learn to roll with the punches.

Origin of punch

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb pouncen, pounson, punchen “to emboss (metal), pierce, prick,” from Old French poinçoner, poinssonner, ponchonner “to emboss”; see also puncheon²

OTHER WORDS FROM punch

puncher, noun

Words nearby punch

puna, Punakha, Punan, Puncak Jaya, punce, punch, Punch-and-Judy show, punchbag, punchball, punchboard, punch bowl

Other definitions for punch (2 of 4)

punch²

[ puhnch ]

/ pʌntʃ /

noun

a tool or machine for perforating or stamping materials, driving nails, etc.

the solid upper die of a punch press, used with a hollow die to blank out shaped pieces of sheet metal or the like.

verb (used with object)

to cut, stamp, pierce, perforate, form, or drive with a tool or machine that punches.

verb (used without object)

to work at or on something with or as if with a mechanical punch.

Origin of punch

First recorded in 1495–1505; short for puncheon², reinforced by punch¹

OTHER WORDS FROM punch

punch·a·ble, adjective

Other definitions for punch (3 of 4)

punch³

[ puhnch ]

/ pʌntʃ /

noun

a beverage consisting of wine or spirits mixed with fruit juice, soda, water, milk, or the like, and flavored with sugar, spices, etc.

a beverage of two or more fruit juices, sugar, and water, sometimes carbonated.

Origin of punch

First recorded in 1625–35; of uncertain origin; traditionally derived from Hindi panch “five” (from the number of ingredients), from Sanskrit panca; cf. five

Other definitions for punch (4 of 4)

Punch

[ puhnch ]

/ pʌntʃ /

noun

the chief male character in a Punch-and-Judy show.

Origin of Punch

Short for Punchinello

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use punch in a sentence

Indeed, adds Ives, the S&P snub is “a gut punch to the bulls.”
Here’s one possible reason why Tesla wasn’t added to the S&P 500|Anne Sraders|September 8, 2020|Fortune
This started as a notch-shaped cutout, and companies have lately worked that down to a single circle that looks like someone took a hole punch tool to the display.
Xiaomi’s “third-generation” under-display camera looks nearly invisible|Ron Amadeo|August 28, 2020|Ars Technica
The coronavirus hit the fashion industry with a tough combination of punches.
‘The Italians are back’: Fashion advertising roars back to life for publishers|Max Willens|July 22, 2020|Digiday
Insects pack a nutritional punch, in part because they’re full of protein.
Scientists Say: Protein|Carolyn Wilke|June 1, 2020|Science News For Students

Cameron pulls few punches in his descriptions of world leaders — Vladimir Putin, for instance.
The Prime Minister Who Cried Brexit (Ep. 392)|Stephen J. Dubner|October 10, 2019|Freakonomics
Like Mike Tyson says, you have a great fight plan until you come out and take the first punch.
How Will Cuba Play In Peoria?|Eleanor Clift|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Ordinarily, you see punch-counterpunch-punch,” as the attacked party tries to fend off the intruder, the former official said.
Obama Could Hit China to Punish North Korea|Shane Harris, Tim Mak|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“You might as well punch yourself in the face,” he says when asked if he read about any of the controversy.
New ‘Late Late Show’ Host James Corden Would Like to Manage Your Expectations|Kevin Fallon|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And while all he says he has spoken to still believe the interrogations saved lives, he said the report was a punch in the gut.
CIA Interrogation Chief: ‘Rectal Feeding,’ Broken Limbs Are News to Me|Kimberly Dozier|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A squad soon arrived to take him away, and I saw the sergeant punch him in the face even though he went quietly.
A Million Ways to Die in Prison|Daniel Genis|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Never had Punch secured the telling of that tale with so little opposition.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
But Punch was five; and he knew that going to England would be much nicer than a trip to Nassick.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
Punch scratched himself in his sleep, and Judy moaned a little.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
At the end of the first day Punch demanded to be set down in England, which he was certain must be close at hand.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
"Yes," said Punch, lifted up in his father's arms to wave good-bye.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling

British Dictionary definitions for punch (1 of 4)

punch¹

/ (pʌntʃ) /

verb

to strike blows (at), esp with a clenched fist

(tr) Western US to herd or drive (cattle), esp for a living

(tr) to poke or prod with a stick or similar object

punch above one's weight to do something that is considered to be beyond one's ability

noun

a blow with the fist

informal telling force, point, or vigourhis arguments lacked punch

pull one's punches See pull (def. 26)

Derived forms of punch

puncher, noun

Word Origin for punch

C15: perhaps a variant of pounce ²

British Dictionary definitions for punch (2 of 4)

punch²

/ (pʌntʃ) /

noun

a tool or machine for piercing holes in a material

any of various tools used for knocking a bolt, rivet, etc, out of a hole

a tool or machine used for stamping a design on something or shaping it by impact

the solid die of a punching machine for cutting, stamping, or shaping material

computing a device, such as a card punch or tape punch, used for making holes in a card or paper tape

See centre punch

verb

(tr) to pierce, cut, stamp, shape, or drive with a punch

Word Origin for punch

C14: shortened from puncheon, from Old French ponçon; see puncheon ²

British Dictionary definitions for punch (3 of 4)

punch³

/ (pʌntʃ) /

noun

any mixed drink containing fruit juice and, usually, alcoholic liquor, generally hot and spiced

Word Origin for punch

C17: perhaps from Hindi pānch, from Sanskrit pañca five; the beverage originally included five ingredients

British Dictionary definitions for punch (4 of 4)

Punch

/ (pʌntʃ) /

noun

the main character in the traditional children's puppet show Punch and Judy

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with punch

punch

In addition to the idioms beginning with punch

punch in
punch out

also see:

beat to it (the punch)
can't punch one's way out of a paper bag
pack a punch
pleased as punch
pull no punches
roll with the punches
sucker punch
throw a punch

punch

OTHER WORDS FOR punch

Idioms about punch

Origin of punch

OTHER WORDS FROM punch

Words nearby punch

Other definitions for punch (2 of 4)

Origin of punch

OTHER WORDS FROM punch

Other definitions for punch (3 of 4)

Origin of punch

Other definitions for punch (4 of 4)

Origin of Punch

Words related to punch

How to use punch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for punch (1 of 4)

Derived forms of punch

Word Origin for punch

British Dictionary definitions for punch (2 of 4)

Word Origin for punch

British Dictionary definitions for punch (3 of 4)

Word Origin for punch

British Dictionary definitions for punch (4 of 4)

Other Idioms and Phrases with punch