fist

1 of 2

noun

1
: the hand clenched with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb doubled inward across the fingers
2
: the hand closed as in grasping : clutch
3

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 stunning images and videos out of Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday will reverberate for years to come: Former President Trump, surrounded by Secret Service agents, raising his fist in the air as blood drips down his face; the video of him dropping the ground as pops are heard in the distance. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 July 2024 Republicans also turned the assassination attempt into a rallying cry, with many sharing photos of Trump defiantly pumping his fist after the shooting with blood streaked across his face. Adam Tamburin, Axios, 15 July 2024
Verb
Watch baseball, football, or any team sport: Players support each other and strengthen their bonds by interacting with each other in high fives, hands clasping or shaking, fists bumping, pats on the head or back—and even hugs. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 17 June 2024 But hockey fights almost always involve mutual, bone-crushing blows, fists jackhammering from powerful shoulders, sometimes fracturing bones, tearing tissue and rattling brains. David Waldstein, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023 See all Example Sentences for fist 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fist was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near fist

Cite this Entry

“Fist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fist. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

fist

noun
ˈfist
1
: the hand clenched with fingers doubled into the palm
2

Medical Definition

fist

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

More from Merriam-Webster on fist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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