punted; punting; punts
1
: to kick (something, such as a football or soccer ball) with the top of the foot before the ball which is dropped from the hands hits the ground
2
: to pass (something, such as a problem) to someone else
The mayor, according to his press release, has punted this problem back to city staff …—
John Lorinc
John Lorinc3
: to defer (something) indefinitely : table sense 1a
There's a sense that leaders around the state would rather punt the issue of high school sports … than make a difficult decision.—Morning Sentinel (Waterville, ME)
Morning Sentinel (Waterville, ME)1
: to punt a ball
2
: to defer a decision about something
—often used with on
According to the report, the consensus for now appears to be to punt on whether an invention conceived of by AI is eligible for patent protection …—Chethan K. Srinivasa
Chethan K. Srinivasa… while Congress continues to punt on the issue, four states passed ballot initiatives in 2014 to raise the minimum wage and cities across the country have committed to or already done the same.—Katie McDonough
Katie McDonough
: the act or an instance of punting (see punt entry 1) a ball
: a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with square ends usually propelled with a pole
punted; punting; punts
: to propel (a boat, such as a punt) with a pole
punted; punting; punts
Examples of punt in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebGigi Sohn, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
Many members on the panel were unhappy that federal officials seemed to be punting on a proposal for broader student debt relief – even after researchers urged the committee to provide automatic relief to households making less than $71,000, news that USA TODAY broke in early December.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Now 32, the younger daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver has punted the luxury residence back on to the market, asking just a hair under $3.2 million.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024
The Senate’s decision to punt on Descovich’s confirmation this session comes a week after a Senate panel recommended her confirmation on a party-line vote.
—Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024
Buffalo would eventually punt the ball once more, but these lapses in concentration are ones teams typically cannot afford late in big games.
—Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
House Republican leaders struggled to wrangle hard-right opposition and managed to pass only six of 12 annual appropriations measures on near-perfect party lines while repeatedly punting deadlines for a government shutdown (and deposing former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the process).
—Tia Yang, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2024
Meanwhile, the Lions recoiled, by twice failing to convert on fourth down, fumbling, and punting on a three-and-out series.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024
Kristin Hickman, a University of Minnesota law professor, said at a Federalist Society event last week that without a clear decision about how to frame administrative law post-Chevron, the court could end up punting.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2024
Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024
Franklin has been among the top punt coverage players in the NFL during the past two years.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
The 49ers have been high on Luter, minus his Super Bowl punt gaffe.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024
Such as when Araiza lined an 82-yard punt in a Bills preseason game, two weeks before he was cut.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024
Townsend, 27, is a free agent after averaging 47.2 yards per punt this year.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2024
Chiefs Now Lead 13-10 5 hr 14 min ago
After the Kansas City Chiefs recovered their own punt, the team managed to convert — and score.
—Breanne L. Heldman, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024
The 49ers’ primary punt return specialist with 57 punt returns for 559 yards over two seasons, McCloud had a broken wrist at the start of the season and missed time with a fractured rib later in the season.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
And despite the Rams giving up two punt returns for touchdowns — one that gave the Baltimore Ravens a victory — McVay retained special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
Unfortunately, the agency largely punted, discussing a variety of options but going no further.
—Gigi Sohn, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
Many members on the panel were unhappy that federal officials seemed to be punting on a proposal for broader student debt relief – even after researchers urged the committee to provide automatic relief to households making less than $71,000, news that USA TODAY broke in early December.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Now 32, the younger daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver has punted the luxury residence back on to the market, asking just a hair under $3.2 million.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024
The Senate’s decision to punt on Descovich’s confirmation this session comes a week after a Senate panel recommended her confirmation on a party-line vote.
—Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024
Buffalo would eventually punt the ball once more, but these lapses in concentration are ones teams typically cannot afford late in big games.
—Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
House Republican leaders struggled to wrangle hard-right opposition and managed to pass only six of 12 annual appropriations measures on near-perfect party lines while repeatedly punting deadlines for a government shutdown (and deposing former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the process).
—Tia Yang, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2024
Meanwhile, the Lions recoiled, by twice failing to convert on fourth down, fumbling, and punting on a three-and-out series.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024
Kristin Hickman, a University of Minnesota law professor, said at a Federalist Society event last week that without a clear decision about how to frame administrative law post-Chevron, the court could end up punting.
—Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2024
Noun
Johnson played a role in the Cowboys signing punt returner KaVontae Turpin and kicker Brandon Aubrey from the USFL in back to back years with both players turning into Pro Bowl performers as rookies.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024
Franklin has been among the top punt coverage players in the NFL during the past two years.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
The 49ers have been high on Luter, minus his Super Bowl punt gaffe.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024
Such as when Araiza lined an 82-yard punt in a Bills preseason game, two weeks before he was cut.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2024
Townsend, 27, is a free agent after averaging 47.2 yards per punt this year.
—Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 22 Feb. 2024
Chiefs Now Lead 13-10 5 hr 14 min ago
After the Kansas City Chiefs recovered their own punt, the team managed to convert — and score.
—Breanne L. Heldman, Peoplemag, 12 Feb. 2024
The 49ers’ primary punt return specialist with 57 punt returns for 559 yards over two seasons, McCloud had a broken wrist at the start of the season and missed time with a fractured rib later in the season.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024
And despite the Rams giving up two punt returns for touchdowns — one that gave the Baltimore Ravens a victory — McVay retained special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near punt
Cite this Entry
“Punt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punt. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
punt
1 of 4 noun
: a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with square ends usually pushed along with a pole
punt
2 of 4 verb
: to propel (as a punt) with a pole
punt
3 of 4 verb
: to kick a football before it touches the ground when dropped from the hands
punter
noun
punt
4 of 4 noun
: the act or an instance of punting a ball
Etymology
Noun
Old English punt "a flat-bottomed boat pushed along with a pole," from Latin ponton-, ponto "punt, floating bridge, pontoon" — related to pontoon
Verb
origin unknown
Geographical Definition
Punt
geographical name
a part of Africa not certainly identified but probably Somaliland
—an ancient Egyptian name
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