Punt: meaning, definitions and examples

Used mainly in American and Canadian football when a player kicks the ball downfield without the intent of scoring a field goal.

• He decided to punt on fourth down.
• The team made a brilliant punt to gain yards.

General term for striking something with the foot, can be used in various sports or everyday situations.

• He decided to kick the ball towards the goal.
• She gave the door a gentle kick to open it.

Colloquial term for kicking something with considerable force, often used in sports or informal settings.

• He tried to boot the ball out of the defender's reach.
• She gave the car door a good boot to close it.

Used in sports, especially rugby and American football, where the player drops the ball and kicks it right after it hits the ground.

• He scored a goal with a perfect drop kick.
• The drop kick requires precise timing.

In American football, it refers to kicking the ball to the opposing team, usually on the fourth down to gain field position.

• The team decided to punt the ball to avoid losing possession.
• He made an excellent punt that pushed the rival team back to their 20-yard line.

Generally used in a broad context to mean placing a wager or being confident about an outcome, it can be informal.

• I bet you can't eat that entire pizza by yourself!
• He placed a bet on his favorite team to win the championship.

A more formal term often used in legal or professional contexts; equates to making a bet.

• The lawyer made a legal wager on the outcome of the case.
• He wagered a significant amount of money on the stock market.

Implies taking a high-risk activity where the outcome is uncertain and often relates to more structured betting environments like casinos; can have negative connotations.

• He decided to gamble his savings away at the casino.
• Investing in that start-up is quite a gamble.

Usually used in American football or rugby to describe a kick where the ball is dropped and then kicked before it hits the ground. It can also be used informally to mean making a decision quickly without much thought.

• The team decided to punt on fourth down.
• He didn't know the answer, so he decided to punt and give a random guess.

A general term for striking something with the foot. Can be used in a wide variety of contexts, from sports to everyday actions. If used informally, it can sometimes have a negative connotation related to aggressive behavior.

• He kicked the ball across the field.
• Make sure to kick the door shut behind you.
• She kicked the habit of smoking after ten years.

Commonly used in soccer (football in most countries) to refer to a powerful kick. It can also mean to start a computer system or, in British slang, to mean to drive a car forcefully.

• The striker booted the ball into the top corner of the net.
• I need to boot up my computer before the meeting.
• He really booted that car down the motorway.

Refers to a specific type of kick in rugby and some variants of football where the ball is dropped and kicked as it touches or immediately after it touches the ground. This term isn't used as frequently in casual conversation.

• He scored a goal with an impressive drop kick.
• She demonstrated a perfect drop kick during the practice session.