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

Neil is a southern elephant seal in Tasmania who enjoys knocking over traffic cones, destroying fences, and blocking traffic. —Julie Klausner, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024

And that's not to mention that aggressive recliners have been known to knock over drinks and damage laptops behind them. —Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024

The swirling track, about a panic attack in London's St. Pancras station, lures us in with its sweet yet eerie string loop before its heavy drumbeat kicks into gear and rockets down an unforeseen path, knocking over every single warning sign along the way. —EW.com, 14 Dec. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

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