Football. a kick in which the ball is dropped and then kicked before it touches the ground.
a small, shallow boat having a flat bottom and square ends, usually used for short outings on rivers or lakes and propelled by poling.
Glassmaking. kick.
Football. to kick (a dropped ball) before it touches the ground.
to propel (a small boat) by thrusting against the bottom of a lake or stream, especially with a pole.
to convey in or as if in a punt.
to punt a football.
to propel a boat by thrusting a pole against the bottom of a river, stream, or lake.
to travel or have an outing in a punt.
Informal. to equivocate or delay.
If they ask you for exact sales figures, you'll have to punt.
Cards. to lay a stake against the bank, as at faro.
Slang. to gamble, especially to bet on horse races or other sporting events.
a gamble or bet, esp against the bank, as in roulette, or on horses
Also called: punter. a person who bets
informal to have an attempt or try at (something)
a kick in certain sports, such as rugby, in which the ball is released and kicked before it hits the ground
any long high kick
First recorded before 1000; 1835–45 punt 1 for def. 1; Old English: “flat-bottomed boat” (not attested in Middle English ), from Latin pontō “pontoon, punt” ( see pontoon 1 ); the sense “to kick a dropped ball” comes perhaps via the semse “to propel (a boat) by shoving”
First recorded in 1705–15; from French ponter, derivative of ponte “punter; point in faro,” from Spanish punto; see origin at point
First recorded in 1970–75; from Irish, from English pound 2
First recorded in 1820–25; probably shortening of punty ( def. )
A punt is a certain kind of kick, like when a rugby player drops the ball and kicks it before it hits the ground. Punts are used in various sports, but you're most likely to see a punt in a football or rugby game. The word punt can be used as both a noun and a verb: "She could punt that ball half way across the field like it was nothing." The root of punt is probably the word bunt, a dialectical variation from the Midlands in England that means "to butt or push with the head."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Norway, preparing to compete for the punt long to Sorloth, were caught in a disorganised defensive shape.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Once again Smith aimed a punt at Freeman.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Irvin finished his career with 35 interceptions for 676 yards, and 147 punt returns for 1,457 yards.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern break down the Broadview Six dismissal and the Supreme Court’s surprising punt in a major death penalty case.
From Slate ● May 23, 2026
If the punt did pass under the bridge without sticking, it would do so by no more than a claw’s breadth.
From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams
Punt returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette provided the only highlight against the Bears when he returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 10, 2023
Punt is documented in ancient illustrations and texts from the same period as the mummy specimens.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2023
Punt returning wide receiver Trent Taylor was on injured reserve with the 49ers when they played in the Super Bowl.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 27, 2023
Punt returner Britain Covey took over as the holder on extra points and field goals, and placekicker Elliott punted once for 35 yards.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 11, 2022
“Colonel, I think I better warn ya,” Ed Mills said from his position on the first stool, “Jimbo Punt used to eat an egg a day on that same stool where you're sittin’.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
