punch above

verb

To reach beyond one's limits; to be more capable than an expected limitation.

“My team has always punched above our small size and stature.”

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Meanings

verbpunch above (third-person singular simple present punches above, present participle punching above, simple past and past participle punched above)

present singular third person punches above · participle present punching above · participle past punched above · past punched above

  1. To reach beyond one's limits; to be more capable than an expected limitation.

    My team has always punched above our small size and stature.

Origin

Shortened from punch above one's weight.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

punch above. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punch%20above

MLA

“punch above.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punch%20above. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “punch above,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punch%20above.

Source: punch above on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.