1 C1 idiomatic slang
(Informal, chiefly American) To knock someone out or defeat them decisively in a physical fight.
"He duked out his opponent in the third round and walked away with the title."
separable
duke out
C1 slang separable transitive
To knock someone out or defeat someone in a fight; a less common variant of 'duke it out'.
In plain English
To punch someone until they are knocked out or defeated.
What does "duke out" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Dukes' is slang for fists — to duke someone out is to knock them out with your fists.
Actually means
To punch someone until they are knocked out or defeated.
Usage tip
Less standard than 'duke it out'. Primarily American English slang. Rarely used outside of informal spoken contexts or colloquial writing. ESL learners should know 'duke it out' first.
Words that pair with "duke out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
opponent rival round fight
How to conjugate "duke out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
duke out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dukes out
he/she/it
Past simple
duked out
yesterday
Past participle
duked out
have + pp
-ing form
duking out
continuous
Hear "duke out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "duke out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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