fist

1 of 2

noun

ˈfist How to pronounce fist (audio)
Synonyms of fistnext
1
: the hand clenched with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb doubled inward across the fingers
pounded on the door with both fists
2
: the hand closed as in grasping : clutch
held the coin in his fist
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
All four were out of their capsule within an hour, waving and pumping their fists in the air aboard SpaceX’s recovery ship. — Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026 All four were out of their capsule within an hour, waving and pumping their fists in the air aboard SpaceX's recovery ship. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 On Tuesday, Taylor welcomed a group of middle-school students touring Spaulding Field with high-fives and fist-pumps. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 According to the complaint, police used four closed-fist strikes to Cosby's face to gain control of his hands. — Jennifer Borrasso, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fist

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

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fist was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing fist

Rhymes for fist

See All Rhymes for fist

Browse Nearby Words

fissury
fist
fist bump
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fist. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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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 How to pronounce fist (audio)
: the hand clenched with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb doubled inward across the fingers

More from Merriam-Webster on fist

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fist

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