knockout

1 of 3

noun

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)

: technical knockout

c

: a blow that knocks out an opponent

2

: a sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive person or thing

knockout

2 of 3

adjective

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

knock out

3 of 3

verb

knocked out; knocking out; knocks out

transitive verb

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

Synonyms

Noun

• babe [slang]
• beauty
• beauty queen
• cookie
• cooky
• cutie
• cutey
• dolly bird [British]
• enchantress
• eyeful
• fox
• goddess
• honey
• queen
• stunner

Adjective

• aesthetic
• esthetic
• aesthetical
• esthetical
• attractive
• beauteous
• beautiful
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• comely
• cute
• drop-dead
• fair
• fetching
• good
• good-looking
• goodly
• gorgeous
• handsome
• likely
• lovely
• lovesome
• pretty
• ravishing
• seemly
• sightly
• stunning
• taking
• well-favored

Verb

• break
• burn out
• bust
• do in
• do up
• drain
• exhaust
• fag
• fatigue
• frazzle
• harass
• kill
• outwear
• tire
• tucker (out)
• wash out
• wear
• wear out
• weary

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

Noun

To their credit, the Buckeyes provided a swift answer to questions about their focus and readiness, following their hot start with a knockout punch in the second half after Tennessee cut the lead to 11 at halftime. —Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024

That was learned from those close to the situation over a month ago with the UAE almost certain to host the India-Pakistan blockbuster - cricket's most lucrative contest - and the knockout stages, including the final. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

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

An unannounced injury briefly knocked out Malik Mustapha, who started over Brown next to Talanoa Hufanga in his comeback. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024

In boxing, Phil Williams knocked out Brandon Burke in ten seconds. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing knockout

• knockout drops
• technical knockout

Kids 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 verb

ˈnäk-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