knock

1 of 2

verb

ˈnäk 

knocked; knocking; knocks

intransitive verb

1

: to strike something with a sharp blow

2

: to collide with something

3

a

: bustle

heard them knocking around in the kitchen

b

: wander

knocked about Europe all summer

4

a

: to make a pounding noise

b

: to have engine knock

5

: to find fault

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to strike sharply

(2)

: to drive, force, or make by or as if by so striking

was knocked out of the campaign

b

: to set forcibly in motion with a blow

2

: to cause to collide

3

: to find fault with

always knocking those in authority

knock

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a sharp blow : rap, hit

a loud knock on the door

b(1)

: a severe misfortune or hardship

(2)

: setback, reversal

2

a

: a pounding noise

b

: a sharp repetitive metallic noise caused by abnormal ignition in an automobile engine

3

: a harsh and often petty criticism

the knock on him was that he couldn't handle the pressure

Phrases

knock cold

: knock out sense 2a(1)

knock dead

: to move strongly especially to admiration or applause

a comedian who really knocks them dead

knock for a loop

1

a

: overcome

knocked my opponent for a loop

b

: demolish

knocked our idea for a loop

2

: dumbfound, amaze

the news knocked them for a loop

knock one's socks off

: to overwhelm or amaze one

a performance that will knock your socks off

knock on wood

—used interjectionally to ward off misfortune

knock together

: to make or assemble especially hurriedly or in a makeshift way

knocked together my own bookcase

Synonyms

Verb

• bang
• bash
• bump
• collide
• crash
• hit
• impact
• impinge
• ram
• slam
• smash
• strike
• swipe
• thud

Noun

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples of knock in a Sentence

Verb

The ball knocked him on the chin.

She knocked the glass from his hand.

He knocked the baseball over the fence.

The ball hit him in the mouth and knocked out one of his teeth.

The wind knocked him backwards.

The dog knocked against the lamp.

My knee accidentally knocked against the table.

Skaters were knocking into each other all over the ice.

I accidentally knocked my knee against the table.

Noun

He gave him a knock on the head.

There was a loud knock at the door.

She took some knocks early in her career.

He likes praise but can't stand the knocks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Don’t give up 44 points to Russell Wilson, which would have meant the Steelers would be facing the possibility of the Bengals knocking them out of the playoffs next week. —Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024

Consider that lovely image from the book of Revelation of Christ standing at the door knocking. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Noun

The victim answered a knock on the door at his apartment in the Polo Grounds Towers on Frederick Douglass Blvd. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 15 Dec. 2024

The pros—and cons—of eliminating pennies Ernst’s knock on pennies was just a small part of a partisan letter that was primarily spent on attacking California public transit and the National Science Foundation. —Greg McKenna, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English knoken, from Old English cnocian; akin to Middle High German knochen to press

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing knock

• anti-knock
• don't knock it until you've tried it
• hard-knock
• hit/knock (someone) for six
• knock around
• knock back
• knock/blow someone's socks off
• knock down
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• knock-down, drag-out
• knock heads
• knock in
• knock it out of the park
• knock-knee
• knock-knock joke
• knock off
• knock on doors
• knock-on effect
• knock oneself out
• knock on the door of
• knock out
• knock over
• knock someone flying
• knock (someone) off his/her pedestal
• knock someone's head/block off
• knock (someone) sideways
• knock some sense into someone
• knock some sense into someone's head
• knock (something) on the head
• knock spots off
• knock the stuffing out of
• knock the wind out of (someone)
• knock up
• take/knock/bring someone down a peg
• throw/knock (someone) off (his/her) stride

Kids Definition

knock

1 of 2 verb

ˈnäk 

1

a

: to strike with a sharp blow

b

: to set in motion with a sharp blow

2

: to bump against something

3

: wander sense 1

knocked about the country last summer

4

: to have engine knock

5

: to find fault with

don't knock it—there are worse jobs

knock

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sharp blow

2

: a severe misfortune or hardship

3

a

: a pounding noise

heard a knock on the door

b

: a sharp rattling noise caused by abnormal ignition in an automobile engine

Medical Definition

knock

noun

ˈnäk 

1

: a sharp blow

a knock to the head

2

: a sharp pounding noise