clinch
Americanverb (used with object)
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clinches,
present (3rd person singular)
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clinched,
past participle, past
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clinching
present participle
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to settle (a matter) decisively.
After they clinched the deal they went out to celebrate.
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to secure (a nail, screw, etc.) in position by beating down the protruding point.
He drove the nails through the board and clinched the points flat with a hammer.
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to fasten (objects) together by nails, screws, etc., secured in this manner.
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Nautical. to fasten by a clinch.
verb (used without object)
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clinches,
present (3rd person singular)
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clinched,
past participle, past
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clinching
present participle
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Boxing. to engage in a clinch.
The boxers clinched and were separated by the referee.
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Slang. to embrace, especially passionately.
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(of a clinched nail, screw, etc.) to hold fast; be secure.
noun
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clinches
plural
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the act of clinching.
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Boxing. an act or instance of one or both boxers holding the other about the arms or body in order to prevent or hinder the opponent's punches.
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Slang. a passionate embrace.
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a clinched nail or fastening.
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the bent part of a clinched nail, screw, etc.
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a knot or bend in which a bight or eye is made by making a loop or turn in the rope and seizing the end to the standing part.
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Archaic. a pun.
verb
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(tr) to secure (a driven nail) by bending the protruding point over
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(tr) to hold together in such a manner
to clinch the corners of the frame
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(tr) to settle (something, such as an argument, bargain, etc) in a definite way
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(tr) nautical to fasten by means of a clinch
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(intr) to engage in a clinch, as in boxing or wrestling
noun
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the act of clinching
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a nail with its point bent over
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the part of such a nail, etc, that has been bent over
-
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boxing wrestling an act or an instance in which one or both competitors hold on to the other to avoid punches, regain wind, etc
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slang a lovers' embrace
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nautical a loop or eye formed in a line by seizing the end to the standing part.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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clinchsimple
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clinchessimple
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have clinchedperfect
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has clinchedperfect
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am clinchingprogressive
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are clinchingprogressive
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is clinchingprogressive
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have been clinchingperfect progressive
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has been clinchingperfect progressive
Past
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clinchedsimple
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had clinchedperfect
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was clinchingprogressive
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were clinchingprogressive
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had been clinchingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of clinch
First recorded in 1560–70; later variant of Middle English clench
Explanation
When you clinch something, you confirm it, the way you clinch a deal with your brother to trade chores next week by shaking hands on it. The verb clinch arose as a variation of clench, and its original meaning was "fix securely (a driven nail) by bending and beating it back." Out of this sense of securing something physically came the figurative meaning of settling or securing an argument, deal, or bargain. You can also use it as a noun to mean "an embrace or close scuffle," like when a boxing referee pulls fighters out of a clinch.
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:
That left a single second on the clock for Cam Little to nail a 57-yard field goal and clinch a 19-17 victory that left the Eagles absolutely devastated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
That means it is possible for Antonelli to clinch his first world title at the next race, the United States Grand Prix on 25 October.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
About 30,000 saw South Korea beat Japan 1-0 to clinch men's football gold, although the occasion was tarnished somewhat when the South Korean flag failed to go up in the victory ceremony.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Carney indicated that some progress had been achieved since then, but not enough to clinch a deal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Herb was hardheaded, a slow man to make a deal; Johnson had worked over a year to clinch this sale.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Dow clinches its worst September start since 2008 as history repeats itself.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Carolina clinches the playoff berth with a victory while the Buccaneers will not necessarily claim the post-season spot with a triumph.
From Barron's ● Jan. 1, 2026
Jabs were scarce; instead, the fight descended into clinches from Clarke and heavy leaning from TKV, with lunging, telegraphed punches punctuating the action.
From BBC ● Nov. 29, 2025
Yet it might also be what clinches five votes against him.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2025
They like to be able to point to specific evidence that clinches an argument: but in the case of the printing revolution we are talking about a long, slow transformation.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Evans clinched his first WRC stage win in Germany in 2014 and a first podium in Argentina a year later, before having to drop down to the WRC2 class in 2016.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Treasurys touched a fresh 24-year high on Monday, while the Nasdaq composite clinched a new record close.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
But speaking in Bangkok after informal closed-door talks with heads of delegations, Cordano said he was hopeful a deal could be clinched at the next official round of negotiations.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
His 90-yard touchdown run immediately after Saugus turned over the ball on downs at the 10-yard line in the fourth quarter clinched the victory.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026
Ms. Watson looked down at the casket and clinched the podium tight to try to keep herself from shaking.
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
The Brewers, an unlikely powerhouse from MLB’s smallest media market, are two wins away from clinching their first World Series appearance in 44 years by winning unlike anyone else in baseball.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
The Dodgers will save the messier celebration for clinching the division.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
But Zheng, who is rebuilding her career after undergoing elbow surgery last year, rallied, clinching it on a tie-break before snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against the American.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
The S&P 500 gained 0.6%, clinching its 26th all-time high of the year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Given all that had happened, and all its terrible consequences, it was frivolous, she knew, but Briony took calm pleasure in delivering her clinching news.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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