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
Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 May 2026
Two of the pilots are multi-camera shows, which are shot in front of a live audience and can benefit from the plethora of comedy writers who live in the area and serve as punch-up writers.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2026
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Patterned wallpapers and rattan chandeliers punch up the spaces and give it some quirk.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for punch-up
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Noun
Among them are Neeson as a Great Gatsby-esque type who puts Declan in the hospital after a punch-up and Cleese as a priest who also doubles as the Grim Reaper.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 May 2026
Two of the pilots are multi-camera shows, which are shot in front of a live audience and can benefit from the plethora of comedy writers who live in the area and serve as punch-up writers.
—Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2026
Verb
Everything at this Elmhurst flamepot is punched up, texture and flavor alike, from sighing-soft to tensile to snappy, and always hot-hot-hot.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Patterned wallpapers and rattan chandeliers punch up the spaces and give it some quirk.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026
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 19 May. 2026.
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