punch line
noun
the climactic phrase or sentence in a joke, speech, advertisement, or humorous story that produces the desired effect.
punch lines
-
pluralof punch line.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
In the same way that cognitive behavioral therapy teaches patients to recontextualize their thoughts and feelings to produce different behaviors, writing stand-up requires people to reexamine their struggles and recontextualize them into punch lines.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Here he is for Ritz, alongside Jon Hamm and Scarlett Johansson, letting a couple of dead-on-arrival punch lines fly.
From Slate ● Feb. 8, 2026
In January 2023, Lil Yachty took an abrupt left-turn on his album “Let’s Start Here,” a psychedelic experiment that traded bars and punch lines for warbling melodies drenched in reverb.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2023
He shared the songs and candid stories of longtime pals like Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell, landing expertly practiced punch lines.
From New York Times ● May 10, 2023
I laughed at the punch lines until he didn't really need me anymore.
From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour
