fist

1 of 2

noun

ˈfist 

1

: the hand clenched with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb doubled inward across the fingers

pounded on the door with both fists

2

: the hand closed as in grasping : clutch

held the coin in his fist

3

: index sense 5

fist

2 of 2

verb

fisted; fisting; fists

transitive verb

1

: to grip with the fist : handle

2

: to clench into a fist

Examples of fist in a Sentence

Noun

He pounded his fist on the table in anger.

She pounded on the door with both fists.

He defiantly shook his fist at the policeman.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The fist in the throat is crazy. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 25 June 2026

Once at the house, Paula tries to be a badass by punching through a basement window with Hazel’s shirt wrapped around her fist. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 1 July 2026

During a loose-ball scramble, Thomas struck Fever superstar Caitlin Clark in the throat with her fist. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026

Rip planted his fist into Rob-Will's face during their first meeting in Episode 1, and things have only gotten more tense through. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English fȳst; akin to Old High German fūst fist, Polish pięść, and probably to Old English fīf five

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fist

• fist bump
• fist pump
• hand over fist
• mailed fist
• make a good fist of
• make a poor fist of
• rule with an iron fist/hand

Rhymes for fist

• cist
• cyst
• didst
• gist
• grist
• hissed
• kissed
• kist
• list
• missed
• mist
• schist

Kids Definition

fist

noun

ˈfist

1

: the hand clenched with fingers doubled into the palm

2

: index entry 1 sense 4

Medical Definition

fist

noun

ˈfist 

: the hand clenched with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb doubled inward across the fingers