MEANING
1. To settle or secure something finally and convincingly.
2. To hold an opponent closely so that free movement is restricted.
3. To bend or flatten the projecting end of a nail or similar fastening so that it holds firmly.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- clinch a deal
- clinch the argument
On the page
The final document clinched the case for an independent inquiry.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- clinch
- Past tense
- clinched
- Past participle
- clinched
- Present participle
- clinching
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- clinch
- Present continuous
- am/is/are clinching
- Present perfect
- have/has clinched
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been clinching
- Past
- clinched
- Past continuous
- was/were clinching
- Past perfect
- had clinched
- Past perfect continuous
- had been clinching
- Future
- will clinch
- Future continuous
- will be clinching
- Future perfect
- will have clinched
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been clinching
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: clinch; clinches; clinched; clinched; clinching Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: clinches.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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