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)
c
: a blow that knocks out an opponent
2
: a sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive person or thing
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
knocked out; knocking out; knocks out
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
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
Rudie Obias, Variety, 18 May 2024
Even Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards conceded the obvious, a telling compliment with a knockout game looming.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
But as much as nobody ever really wants to admit it, the draws for knockout competitions do matter.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 10 May 2024
Still, what a compelling night, thanks in no small measure to a knockout lead performance from Claudia Quesada in the role of an immigration agent whose decisions catch up to her.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2024
One goal was all San Jose would need to advance past its East Bay opponent in a 1-0 victory in the US Open Cup knockout tournament game.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 7 May 2024
As if the dress wasn't dazzling enough, Lopez sported a knockout set of Tiffany & Co. jewels, including a bracelet, earrings and a statement necklace adorned with one large diamond more than 20 carats.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
However, Munguía has a higher knockout rate with about 79%, compared to Canelo’s 65% KO rate.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 4 May 2024
The risk was worth taking against a semi-pro team trekking north for the knockout game.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2024
Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 3 Feb. 2023
Addison Rae added to the ever-growing list of knockout vintage Y2K, donning a wrap skirt from Roberto Cavalli’s spring 2000 collection.
—André-Naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2023
Every previous fight was decided by knockout, technical knockout or unanimous decision.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2023
Marchand’s goal on the advantage, the knockout punch for the Fish Sticks, came at 5:03 of the third.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Jan. 2023
Ferreira ended up starting the knockout round match against the Netherlands, an eventual 3-1 defeat for the U.S., but his effect on the game was minimal and he was subbed off to start the second half.
—Dallas News, 2 Jan. 2023
Then came the knockout punch, delivered by Samuel, who took a short pass 74 yards to the house for a 38-17 lead that placed the game in the blowout category.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2023
Whereas some of these stronger medicines are like a knockout punch, think of CBD as a lullaby that soothes you into sleep and doesn’t just knock you out.
—Dallas News, 21 Oct. 2022
However, defeats to Portugal (3-2) and Uruguay (2-0) meant Ghana failed to progress to the knockout stage.
—Robert Kidd, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022
Karl Vick, TIME, 23 May 2024
The powerful thunderstorms that raced through the Kansas City area overnight, downing tree limbs and knocking out power for thousands, have left the metro area, but additional storms may return later Monday.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2024
The crash knocked out power for a section of Pasadena on Saturday morning.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2024
Kentucky tied for second in the conference and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, only to get knocked out by Oakland in the round of 64.
—Andrew Seligman, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024
Such powerful storms can wreak havoc on our planet, as in March 1989 when a powerful storm knocked out power for millions in a Canadian province for several hours.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 12 May 2024
Ukraine has had enormous success in attacking Russian oil refineries—knocking out as much as 15 percent of the country’s total refining capacity—and bombing Russian air bases.
—Justin Ling, WIRED, 2 May 2024
They got knocked out in the first round in 2022 and 2023.
—Andrew Seligman, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024
Israel’s air force knocked out the reactor in 2007.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 12 May 2024
Noun
Fury even has a higher knockout rate with about 71%, compared to Usyk’s 67% KO rate.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 18 May 2024
Even Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards conceded the obvious, a telling compliment with a knockout game looming.
—Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 15 May 2024
But as much as nobody ever really wants to admit it, the draws for knockout competitions do matter.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 10 May 2024
Still, what a compelling night, thanks in no small measure to a knockout lead performance from Claudia Quesada in the role of an immigration agent whose decisions catch up to her.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2024
One goal was all San Jose would need to advance past its East Bay opponent in a 1-0 victory in the US Open Cup knockout tournament game.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 7 May 2024
As if the dress wasn't dazzling enough, Lopez sported a knockout set of Tiffany & Co. jewels, including a bracelet, earrings and a statement necklace adorned with one large diamond more than 20 carats.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
However, Munguía has a higher knockout rate with about 79%, compared to Canelo’s 65% KO rate.
—Rudie Obias, Variety, 4 May 2024
The risk was worth taking against a semi-pro team trekking north for the knockout game.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2024
Adjective
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
Addison Rae added to the ever-growing list of knockout vintage Y2K, donning a wrap skirt from Roberto Cavalli’s spring 2000 collection.
—André-Naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2023
Every previous fight was decided by knockout, technical knockout or unanimous decision.
—Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2023
Marchand’s goal on the advantage, the knockout punch for the Fish Sticks, came at 5:03 of the third.
—Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Jan. 2023
Ferreira ended up starting the knockout round match against the Netherlands, an eventual 3-1 defeat for the U.S., but his effect on the game was minimal and he was subbed off to start the second half.
—Dallas News, 2 Jan. 2023
Then came the knockout punch, delivered by Samuel, who took a short pass 74 yards to the house for a 38-17 lead that placed the game in the blowout category.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2023
Whereas some of these stronger medicines are like a knockout punch, think of CBD as a lullaby that soothes you into sleep and doesn’t just knock you out.
—Dallas News, 21 Oct. 2022
However, defeats to Portugal (3-2) and Uruguay (2-0) meant Ghana failed to progress to the knockout stage.
—Robert Kidd, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022
Verb
To wit: As many as half of those 300 Iranian missiles and drones knocked out of the sky in April were downed by the U.S. and others.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 23 May 2024
The powerful thunderstorms that raced through the Kansas City area overnight, downing tree limbs and knocking out power for thousands, have left the metro area, but additional storms may return later Monday.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2024
The crash knocked out power for a section of Pasadena on Saturday morning.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2024
Kentucky tied for second in the conference and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, only to get knocked out by Oakland in the round of 64.
—Andrew Seligman, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024
Such powerful storms can wreak havoc on our planet, as in March 1989 when a powerful storm knocked out power for millions in a Canadian province for several hours.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 12 May 2024
Ukraine has had enormous success in attacking Russian oil refineries—knocking out as much as 15 percent of the country’s total refining capacity—and bombing Russian air bases.
—Justin Ling, WIRED, 2 May 2024
They got knocked out in the first round in 2022 and 2023.
—Andrew Seligman, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024
Israel’s air force knocked out the reactor in 2007.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 12 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knockout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near knockout
Cite this Entry
“Knockout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knockout. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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 verbˈnäk-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
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