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

In one fist, the domestic helper holds a small figurine of Our Lady of Good Voyage in Antipolo, the patron saint of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). —Hung Duong, Artforum, 18 June 2025

If Mario is about bouncing around on legs, Donkey Kong is about fists. —Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 June 2025

The News Want a MAGA rice cooker or a snow globe with a small version of President Donald Trump raising his fist? —Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 16 June 2025

After Reedus whispered the toilet translation into Lincoln's ear, the Rick Grimes actor repeated the phrase not once but twice before happily pumping his fist in excitement. —Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 9 June 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