Standard Lemma guide

punch-up

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈpʌntʃˌʌp/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A fight with the fists.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: affray, dust-up, fight, fracas, kerfuffle, rixation, ruckus, set to, set-to, stoush

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Misspelling of punch up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, misspelling

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a fistfight

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the quarrel ended in a punch-up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: fistfight, fisticuffs, slugfest

History

Etymology

Deverbal from punch up.