punched up; punching up; punches up
: to give energy or forcefulness to
jokes added to punch up a speech
Examples of punch-up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
That said, the negative reputation surrounding the last lines in Jones’ thorny adaptation — a punch-up from Ellison’s original text that’s meaner and more sexist, no doubt — seems outsized.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 July 2025
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Then, Olivia scurried off into an enclave off the side stage as Dylan and Daniella punched up into a high-octane, athletic routine.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch-up
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Noun
But comics depend on feedback – punch-ups from fellow comedians and reactions from audiences – iterating jokes in the same way lean startups may innovate new products.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 25 Sep. 2025
That said, the negative reputation surrounding the last lines in Jones’ thorny adaptation — a punch-up from Ellison’s original text that’s meaner and more sexist, no doubt — seems outsized.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 July 2025
Verb
Morgenthaler’s version—amaretto and lemon, punched up with a pour of high-proof bourbon, and smoothed out with an egg white—utterly transforms the drink.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Then, Olivia scurried off into an enclave off the side stage as Dylan and Daniella punched up into a high-octane, athletic routine.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for punch-up
Cite this Entry
“Punch-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punch-up. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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