as in to sip
to swallow in liquid form
desperately thirsty, she knocked back an entire glass of water without pausing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock back
The Europeans in attendance were understandably impressed with the amount of bourbon the two were able to knock back.
—
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2024
His rescuers were absolutely hammered— knocking back beers, aimlessly touring the storm—but their drunken hearts were in the right place.
—Leath Tonino, Outside Online, 23 Feb. 2017
In Paris, Diana was tricked, by her husband and mine, into knocking back a wineglass that had a dead fly in it.
—Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2024
But later, Chiles' score was knocked back down when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled her appeal was submitted four seconds too late.
—Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knock back 
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2024
His rescuers were absolutely hammered— knocking back beers, aimlessly touring the storm—but their drunken hearts were in the right place.
—Leath Tonino, Outside Online, 23 Feb. 2017
In Paris, Diana was tricked, by her husband and mine, into knocking back a wineglass that had a dead fly in it.
—Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2024
But later, Chiles' score was knocked back down when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled her appeal was submitted four seconds too late.
—Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knock back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock back
Verb
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Whether sipping it straight, over ice, or using it as an ingredient in cocktails, here are the 13 best mezcals to buy now.—
Richard Carleton Hacker,
Robb Report,
24 Jan. 2025
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Both can transform your cocktail into something that begs you to sip more slowly, savoring each swirl on your palate.—
Emily Price,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Those experiencing diarrhea from such an illness are encouraged to drink plenty of water to help prevent dehydration.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
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Their deaths came just a few months after six tourists — including an American man — died in Laos in November 2024 after drinking alcohol that authorities suspected was tainted with methanol.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In a state of unimaginable desperation, Islam and his family would also turn to water, gulping it in desperate attempts to fill their stomachs.—
Daphne Ewing-Chow,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
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But being exposed to an ambient, low-level dose of germs is very different from gulping down a concentrated slug of them.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
TIME,
20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near knock back
Cite this Entry
“Knock back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20back. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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