Word
duke
US/ˈduk/
UK/djˈuːk/
Definitions
01nobleman
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a man of very high social rank, just below a prince.
n. the highest rank of the peerage in several European countries, often holding a title associated with a specific territory or duchy.
“The Duke of Wellington led the army to victory at the battle.”
“The Duke inherited a vast estate in the countryside, along with several historic titles that had been in his family for centuries.”
02fists
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Informal · Slang
n. your hands when they are closed tightly, usually used when talking about fighting.
n. a person's fists; almost exclusively used in the plural form within the idiom 'put up your dukes'.
“The two men put up their dukes and prepared to fight in the street.”
“He told the bully to put up his dukes, though it was clear he had never actually been in a physical confrontation before.”
Usage
Usually plural ('dukes').
Teaching tip
This sense is mostly found in older movies or books; modern speakers use it for a humorous or old-fashioned effect.
03to fight
C1 · Advanced Informal · American English
v. to fight with your fists, especially in the phrase 'duke it out'.
v. to engage in a physical or verbal fight; typically used in the phrasal verb 'duke it out'.
“The two politicians decided to duke it out during the live television debate.”
“Rather than taking the matter to court, the two companies decided to duke it out in the marketplace through aggressive advertising campaigns.”
Usage
Commonly used as 'duke it out'.
Real-World Examples
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to return to live in Britain, six years after leaving for the US, it has been reported.” “The sudden decision to return leaves lots of questions for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Royal Family.” “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to move back to the UK, BBC News understands.” “In 1587, Grand Duke Francesco de Medici and his wife, Bianca Cappello, died during a visit to the family villa in Poggio after a brief severe illness.” Word family
NOUN
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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