wallop

American  

[wol-uhp] / ˈwɒl əp /

verb (used with object)

wallops, present (3rd person singular) walloped, past participle, past walloping present participle

1. to beat soundly; thrash.

2. Informal. to strike with a vigorous blow; belt; sock.

   After two strikes, he walloped the ball out of the park.

3. Informal. to defeat thoroughly, as in a game.

   Synonyms:

   best, crush, rout, trounce

4. Chiefly Scot. to flutter, wobble, or flop about.

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verb (used without object)

wallops, present (3rd person singular) walloped, past participle, past walloping present participle

1. Informal. to move violently and clumsily.

   The puppy walloped down the walk.

2. (of a liquid) to boil violently.

3. Obsolete. to gallop.

noun

wallops plural

1. a vigorous blow.

2. the ability to deliver vigorous blows, as in boxing.

   That fist of his packs a wallop.

3. Informal.

   1. the ability to effect a forceful impression; punch.

      That ad packs a wallop.

   2. a pleasurable thrill; kick.

      The joke gave them all a wallop.

4. Informal. a violent, clumsy movement; lurch.

5. Obsolete. a gallop.

wallop British  

/ ˈwɒləp /

verb

1. informal (tr) to beat soundly; strike hard

2. informal (tr) to defeat utterly

3. dialect (intr) to move in a clumsy manner

4. (intr) (of liquids) to boil violently

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noun

1. informal a hard blow

2. informal the ability to hit powerfully, as of a boxer

3. informal a forceful impression

4. a slang word for beer

verb

1. an obsolete word for gallop

wallop Idioms  

1. see pack a punch (wallop).

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• walloper
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• wallops
  plural

Participles

• walloping
  present
• walloped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• wallop
  simple
• wallops
  simple
• have walloped
  perfect
• has walloped
  perfect
• am walloping
  progressive
• are walloping
  progressive
• is walloping
  progressive
• have been walloping
  perfect progressive
• has been walloping
  perfect progressive

Past

• walloped
  simple
• had walloped
  perfect
• was walloping
  progressive
• were walloping
  progressive
• had been walloping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will wallop
  simple
• will have walloped
  perfect
• will be walloping
  progressive
• will have been walloping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of wallop

1300–50; Middle English walopen to gallop, wal ( l ) op gallop < Anglo-French waloper (v.), walop (noun), Old French galoper, galop; see gallop

Explanation

A wallop is a hard punch or another strong hit. A boxer sometimes wins a match with one single, well-aimed wallop to their opponent. A wallop is not just a physical blow, but it can also be a huge effect or impact. A principal's strongly worded lecture to a group of bullies might pack a wallop, for example, resulting in a major change in behavior. Use this word as a verb and it means "punch" or "defeat completely," so you'll frequently hear it in sports reporting: "The Wizards score the last points of the game and wallop the Pacers."

Example Sentences

All the indications are that Maeda will leave Celtic this summer, exiting with a crash, a bang and a wallop.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

They also wallop small businesses, which typically pay tax at their state’s individual rate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

And just when you think you can’t possibly have an emotional connection to what you’re watching, a sudden wallop to the gut punches the tears right out of you.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

U.S. airlines have already canceled nearly 6,000 flights through Sunday ahead of a winter storm expected to wallop two-thirds of the United States over the weekend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 24, 2026

I tried to run, because I thought he might wallop me for being in his room, but instead he took my hand and led me to the stack.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Related Words

• clobber
• drub
• pummel
• smack
• whack