as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
we knocked about from town to town, looking for work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in rollicking
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a knockabout game of football in the mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in gypsy
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
the book is one writer's journey of self-discovery as a restless knockabout
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock (about)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Adjective
Though thematically vague, thinly plotted and without a reliably sympathetic soul to cling to, the movie has a mutinous energy and an absurd, knockabout charm; even its violence is more quirky than brutal.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock (about)
Verb
-
The legacy of the British Q-ships During World War I, more than 200 Q-ships—and perhaps as many as 400—roamed the seas.—
Sean Kingsley,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Feb. 2025
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As nocturnal creatures, this provides them with a comfortable space to freely roam about.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
4 Feb. 2023
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His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.—
Sonal Dutt,
Peoplemag,
23 Jan. 2023
Verb
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Thirty years earlier, in 1995, on the weekend before Quebec’s second referendum on independence, my family and I went to Montreal to wander the city, to try to sense what Quebeckers were feeling, but mostly just to be there.—
Ken Dryden,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2025
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Keep an eye out for chachalaca, green jays, Altamira orioles, and the occasional rare avian visitor that wanders in from faraway.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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If Nix’s first season was any indication, the Broncos have backed up Payton’s boisterous claim of a year ago.—
Nick Kosmider,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
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Encouraged by its best-ever result, with 20% of the vote, and boosted by the boisterous support of Elon Musk and others in the Trump Administration, the AfD is waiting in the wings.—
John Kampfner,
TIME,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As for the content, the rest of the movie features Orsolya drifting from one encounter to another, meeting with friends and family to talk about what happened and try to unpack her feelings.—
Jordan Mintzer,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Feb. 2025
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The soundtrack shows off Luckey’s versatility, her husky voice drifting between rock, new wave, house and adult contemporary.—
Rich Juzwiak,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Riverdale In Riverdale, outside Village Hall, there was a lively scene Tuesday afternoon as members of Michael Airhart’s mayoral campaign were ordered to remove their campaign signs from a median.—
Samantha Moilanen,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2025
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Around the room’s standing tables and plush, blush-pink lounge seats, friends, castmates, and both new and familiar faces engaged in lively conversation.—
Jamila Stewart,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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While much of Europe shivers in the winter, Asturias enjoys mild weather, with locals strolling along beaches in winter without jackets.—
Jenn Rice,
Vogue,
12 Feb. 2025
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But Twain liked to be able to stroll to downtown Hartford.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Image As for other noise, sports-watching venues across Canada were raucous.—
Vjosa Isai,
New York Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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The result was a raucous and at times sentimental at television's most famous comedy hour.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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