punt

/pʌnt/
verb
  1. To kick a ball, especially in football or rugby, after dropping it from the hands and before it hits the ground.
    • He punted the rugby ball high into the air.
    • The quarterback decided to punt the ball on fourth down.
    • The player punted the soccer ball down the field.
  2. To delay making a decision or dealing with a problem; to defer or avoid something.
    • The committee decided to punt the issue to the next meeting.
    • The manager punted on the tough question during the press conference.
    • Instead of answering, she punted and said she'd think about it.
  3. To bet or gamble, especially in a casual or speculative way.
    • He punted a small amount of money on the horse race.
    • They punted on the lottery ticket just for fun.
    • She punted on a risky stock and made a profit.
Antonyms
noun
  1. A kick made by dropping a ball from the hands and kicking it before it hits the ground, especially in football.
    • She practiced her punt every day after school.
    • The crowd cheered after a 50-yard punt.
    • The punter's long punt pinned the other team deep in their territory.
  2. A flat-bottomed boat with a square end, usually propelled by pushing a long pole against the bottom of a river or lake.
    • They spent the afternoon drifting down the river in a punt.
    • The old wooden punt was tied to the dock.
    • He rented a punt to explore the quiet canals.
  3. A bet or wager, especially a small or casual one.
    • He placed a punt on the underdog team.
    • Her punt on the stock market paid off unexpectedly.
    • It was just a small punt, so losing didn't matter.