knock·out
ˈnäk-ˌau̇t 
1
a
: the act of knocking out : the condition of being knocked out
b(1)
: the termination of a boxing match when one boxer has been knocked down and is unable to rise and resume boxing within a specified time
(2)
c
: a blow that knocks out an opponent
2
: a sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive person or thing
1
: causing a knockout
a knockout blow
2
: sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive
a knockout dress
3
: having all or part of a gene eliminated or inactivated by genetic engineering
knockout mice predisposed to diabetes mellitus
knocked out; knocking out; knocks out
1
: to produce roughly or hastily
2
a(1)
: to defeat (a boxing opponent) by a knockout
(2)
: to make unconscious
the drug knocked him out
b
: to make inoperative or useless
electricity was knocked out by the storm
c
: to get rid of : eliminate
knocked out illegal gambling
3
: to tire out : exhaust
knocked themselves out with work
4
: to cause (an opposing pitcher) to be removed from a baseball game by a batting rally
Examples of knockout in a Sentence
Noun
He won the match by a knockout.
He scored a knockout in the fourth round.
She's a real knockout in that dress.
Adjective
The Wimbledon tennis tournament is a knockout competition.
a knockout sports car that's the talk of the neighborhood
Verb
the entire staff knocked itself out getting the project finished on time
Recent Examples on the Web
Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Her knockout performance carries The Substance, propelled by visceral desperation, rage and cruel suffering.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025
Tribune News Service, Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2024
The knockout blow to the fighter, as Findeisen gleefully pointed out, was the name of the fake NFT project, SourzNFT Candies are Moundbound.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 3 Feb. 2023
Erica Sloan, SELF, 28 Feb. 2025
Three months later, he was knocked out in the first round by Jamall Emmers at UFC 295.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knockout
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
This Group B game features two teams that lost their first match of this competition and are now in dire need of a win to keep pace with South Africa and Australia in the battle to make the knockout stage.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Her knockout performance carries The Substance, propelled by visceral desperation, rage and cruel suffering.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Even if Germany beats Colombia, a knockout path of Japan then either of those would be much better than facing Spain at any point.
—Tribune News Service, Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2024
The knockout blow to the fighter, as Findeisen gleefully pointed out, was the name of the fake NFT project, SourzNFT Candies are Moundbound.
—Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 3 Feb. 2023
Verb
You’ll probably be knocked out, or at least feel the need to be horizontal.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 28 Feb. 2025
Three months later, he was knocked out in the first round by Jamall Emmers at UFC 295.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knockout
Cite this Entry
“Knockout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knockout. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knockout
1 of 2 noun
knock·out
ˈnäk-ˌau̇t
1
: the act of knocking out : the condition of being knocked out
2
: something or someone very striking or attractive
knockout
adjective
knock out
2 of 2 verbˈnäk-ˈau̇t,
näk-ˈau̇t
: to make unconscious
Medical Definition
knockout
adjective
knock·out
ˈnäk-ˌau̇t
: having all or part of a gene eliminated or inactivated by genetic engineering
knockout mice predisposed to diabetes mellitus serve as animal models in the study of human diabetes
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