# fist

/ˈfɪst/ (US) · /fˈɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fist
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. clenched hand

noun · CEFR A2

a hand with the fingers curled tightly into the palm.

For teachers: the hand with the fingers doubled into the palm and the thumb folded over them, typically for striking or as a gesture of anger or determination.

- He held the money tightly in his fist so he wouldn't lose it.
- The protester raised a defiant fist toward the sky, a gesture that was captured by every photographer in the square.

### 2. an attempt or effort

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

how well you do something, usually in the phrase 'make a good fist of it'.

For teachers: an attempt or performance at a task; almost exclusively used in the idiom 'to make a good/poor fist of something'.

- It was her first time baking a cake, but she made a good fist of it.
- Despite having no formal training in accounting, the new manager made a surprisingly good fist of balancing the department's complex budget.

### 3. to clench the hand

verb · CEFR B2

to close your hand tightly into a ball.

For teachers: to clench the fingers into the palm to form a fist.

- She fisted her hands in her pockets to keep them warm.
- He fisted his hands in frustration as he watched the train pull away from the platform just as he reached the gate.

### 4. to hit

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to hit someone or something with a closed hand.

For teachers: to strike or punch with the fist; often used in sports or physical altercations.

- The boxer fisted his opponent's ribs during the final round.
- In the heat of the argument, he fisted the table so hard that the glasses rattled and the water spilled.

## Examples

- He clenched his fist in anger.
- The boxer raised his fist in victory after the referee announced the final score.
- She pounded her fist against the heavy oak door, hoping someone inside would hear her over the sound of the storm.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.