- 1to make someone suffer because they have broken the law or done something wrong punish somebody Those responsible for this crime will be severely punished. My parents used to punish me by not letting me watch TV. punish somebody for something/for doing something He was punished for refusing to answer their questions.
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- 2punish something (by/with something) to set the punishment for a particular crime In those days murder was always punished with the death penalty.
- 3punish yourself (for something) to blame yourself for something that has happened
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NAmE//ˈpʌnɪʃ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they punish he / she / it punishes
past simple punished
-ing form punishing
Check pronunciation: punish