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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When someone in the background scolds him, the dog quickly jumps off the counter, knocking over a few bottles. Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 24 May 2025 Her oven blows up, knocking over a chair that falls onto the knife in her chest, driving it in further and killing her. Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 16 May 2025 Tapper's stutter straw man is easily knocked over with just a few undeniable truths: reading stage directions out loud repeatedly isn't stuttering. Mark R. Weaver, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025 In one recent episode, Elmo gets angry when a ball knocks over his block tower. Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for knock over

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of knock over was circa 1814

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Knock over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knock%20over. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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