knock over

verb

knocked over; knocking over; knocks over

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to strike to the ground : fell

(2)

: overwhelm

was knocked over by the news

b

: eliminate

knocked over every difficulty

2

a

: steal

especially : hijack

knocks over a truckload of merchandise

—J. B. Martin

b

: rob

knocking over a bank

Synonyms

• burglarize
• burgle
• knock off
• rip off
• rob
• steal (from)
• take off [slang]

Examples of knock over in a Sentence

he knocked over six convenience stores before getting caught

knocked me over trying to get out the door

Recent Examples on the Web

Our decorative Glass Lanterns show off your candles without risking them getting knocked over during a lively holiday gathering. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2024

The harsh winds ripped traffic signal lights off of their support poles, blew down a lamp post in the Scotts Valley Target parking lot and knocked over electrical power poles, cutting off power and snarling traffic throughout the afternoon. —Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 14 Dec. 2024

Video shows the deer knocking over the Christmas tree of A.M. Bottle Mechanical and returning the next morning to inspect the damage. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

This electric heater from Amazon has three heating modes and tip-over protection in case it is knocked over. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)