KO

2 of 2

verb

KO'd kā-ˈōd How to pronounce KO (audio)
ˈkā-(ˌ)ōd
; KO'ing kā-ˈō-iŋ How to pronounce KO (audio)
ˈkā-(ˌ)ō-iŋ

transitive verb

: to knock out (as in boxing)

Examples of KO in a Sentence

Noun He scored a KO in the second round. Verb He was KO'd in the second round.
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.
Noun
After another first-round KO/TKO win against Raimond Magomedaliev, White awarded the star lightweight with a contract. William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025 The final moments of the viral KO defeat to Holloway, in which the two fighters went blow-for-blow in the waning moments before Holloway sent Gaethje to the canvas with one second left, is the unhinged hostility that Gaethje wants to summon on Saturday. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2025 Spanish soccer giant Real Madrid announced a huge KO injury blow which Cope - citing anonymous sources - expects to sideline the first team starting player in question for around two months. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 After Season 1 launch, KO Distribution sold production rights to the likes of Mediawan for French-speaking territories, Masked Singer producer Bandicoot in the UK and Eureka Productions in Australia, while broadcaster 3Cat has taken to series in Catalonia. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Feb. 2025 Stunningly designed by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty of Studio KO, the museum, along with the foundation, has changed the look and feel of Marrakech since its opening in 2017. Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2025 Shares of Coca-Cola (KO) shed about 17% of their value following a September 2024 high around $73. David Keller, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025 The Russian striker produced a stunning knockout in his last outing, finishing Armen Petrosyan with a double spinning-backfist to claim a highlight-reel KO. Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 Chimaev submitted John Phillips on July 15, 2020, only to return on July 25, 2020, and defeat Rhys McKee by KO/TKO. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

knock out

First Known Use

Noun

1911, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of KO was in 1911

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“KO.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/KO. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

KO

1 of 2 noun
(ˈ)kā-ˈō How to pronounce KO (audio)
ˈkā-ō
plural KO's
: a knockout in boxing

KO

2 of 2 verb
KO'd kā-ˈōd How to pronounce KO (audio)
ˈkā-ōd
; KO'ing -ˈō-iŋ How to pronounce KO (audio)
-ō-
: to knock out in boxing

More from Merriam-Webster on KO

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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