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

2

: the hand closed as in grasping : clutch

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

But after three more of Karty’s kicks were blocked over the next three weeks and all of them played a role in Rams losses, the panic button has felt a fist as fierce as the ones that kept those kicks from sniffing the uprights. —Nate Atkins, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

At River Roots, Paul takes those fist-sized biscuits and uses them to sandwich tender smoked chicken thighs from Parts & Labor catering and tangy, peppery Alabama white sauce. —Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Oct. 2025

The two men pleaded not guilty and the judge set bail at $500 for Bowers and $1,000 for Cantwell, and both were seen fist-bumping after learning the bail amount, CBS News reported. —Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025

Witnesses told the outlet that several fist fights turned into a chaotic scene for many park goers. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025

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

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
• gist
• grist
• hissed
• kissed
• kist
• list
• missed
• mist
• schist
• tryst

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