1
a
: the rounded prominence formed by the ends of the two adjacent bones at a joint
—used especially of those at the joints of the fingers
b
: the joint of a knuckle
2
: a cut of meat consisting of the tarsal or carpal joint with the adjoining flesh
3
: something resembling a knuckle: such as
a(1)
: one of the joining parts of a hinge through which a pin or rivet passes
(2)
b
: the meeting of two surfaces at a sharp angle (as in a roof)
c
: a pivotal point
4
knuckles plural
: a set of metal finger rings or guards attached to a transverse piece and worn over the front of the doubled fist for use as a weapon
called also brass knuckles
knuckled; knuckling
ˈnə-k(ə-)liŋ 
: to place the knuckles on the ground in shooting a marble
: to press or rub with the knuckles
Examples of knuckle in a Sentence
Noun
She rapped her knuckles on the table.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
They were arrested on suspicion of possession of a steroid, an assault weapon, a silencer and narcotics as well as manufacturing and selling metal knuckles and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the news release.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Problems can arise when the steering knuckle separates from the upper control arm ball joint, causing the wheel to fall outward, which may cause a driver to lose control on the road, according to a Feb. 22 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.
—Julian Mark, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
According to the recall document, the upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024
In a letter dated Feb. 24 on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, Chrysler said the steering knuckles and part of the upper control arms — which are supposed to attach together — may in fact separate, which could cause the vehicles to lose control.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
Schindler said the hospital-grade technology can instantly detect, especially in hard to clean areas such as beneath fingernails and in and around jewelry and knuckles, gut biome molecules that can transmit norovirus, E. coli, salmonella, Hepatitis A, Listeria, and other common illnesses.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
The broth is a days-long process that starts with simmering beef knuckle bones, chicken bones and short rib bones for hours.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024
Their options before that were: A. Grating spuds by hand, with unpleasant potential for knuckle scraping.
—Bonnie S. Benwick, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Jaedyn Shaw’s quick gather-and-strike from 21 yards knuckled a few feet above the ground toward the frame’s lower right corner.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2023
If Aaron Rodgers caused Wisconsin sports fans to white knuckle their way through the NFL draft Thursday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo unintentionally flushed the rest of the color out their faces just 32 seconds into the Milwaukee Bucks’ game in Houston.
—Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2021
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, a former NHL and AHL forward, knows how pucks can knuckle toward you.
—Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Dec. 2022
Judging from their hands, arms, backs, hips and legs, these European apes didn’t knuckle-walk like a chimpanzee.
—Jeremy Desilva, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2022
Lacking the political courage to do what’s right, Democrats will have to white-knuckle it, hoping that there are enough Republicans in the House and Senate to get a deal done before the December 16 deadline.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 1 Dec. 2022
Before purchasing the pumpkin, rap on it with you knuckle in several spots to ensure there aren’t any soft spots, which indicate rot.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 11 Aug. 2021
Patients aren’t strapped to a hospital bed, white-knuckling it through withdrawal; instead, they are gradually weaned off the drugs outside the hospital over the course of months.
—Lindsay Beyerstein, The New Republic, 10 Mar. 2020
Noun
While filming his first fight scene, Patel immediately broke his hand; Thomas recalls taking him to a doctor, watching Patel getting a screw put into his knuckles, and listen as the director-star was told that any further strain could permanently damage it.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2024
They were arrested on suspicion of possession of a steroid, an assault weapon, a silencer and narcotics as well as manufacturing and selling metal knuckles and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the news release.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Problems can arise when the steering knuckle separates from the upper control arm ball joint, causing the wheel to fall outward, which may cause a driver to lose control on the road, according to a Feb. 22 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.
—Julian Mark, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
According to the recall document, the upper control arm ball joint and steering knuckle may separate and cause the wheel to fall outward, resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 29 Feb. 2024
In a letter dated Feb. 24 on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, Chrysler said the steering knuckles and part of the upper control arms — which are supposed to attach together — may in fact separate, which could cause the vehicles to lose control.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 12 Mar. 2024
Schindler said the hospital-grade technology can instantly detect, especially in hard to clean areas such as beneath fingernails and in and around jewelry and knuckles, gut biome molecules that can transmit norovirus, E. coli, salmonella, Hepatitis A, Listeria, and other common illnesses.
—Parija Kavilanz, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
The broth is a days-long process that starts with simmering beef knuckle bones, chicken bones and short rib bones for hours.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2024
Their options before that were: A. Grating spuds by hand, with unpleasant potential for knuckle scraping.
—Bonnie S. Benwick, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
But the underdog story, produced by Jordan Peele, also shows a bunch of new sides to Patel, who knuckles up as a legit action star and a guy who can make a movie that’s totally cool, occasionally amusing and impressively thoughtful.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
Jaedyn Shaw’s quick gather-and-strike from 21 yards knuckled a few feet above the ground toward the frame’s lower right corner.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2023
If Aaron Rodgers caused Wisconsin sports fans to white knuckle their way through the NFL draft Thursday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo unintentionally flushed the rest of the color out their faces just 32 seconds into the Milwaukee Bucks’ game in Houston.
—Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2021
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, a former NHL and AHL forward, knows how pucks can knuckle toward you.
—Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Dec. 2022
Judging from their hands, arms, backs, hips and legs, these European apes didn’t knuckle-walk like a chimpanzee.
—Jeremy Desilva, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2022
Lacking the political courage to do what’s right, Democrats will have to white-knuckle it, hoping that there are enough Republicans in the House and Senate to get a deal done before the December 16 deadline.
—Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 1 Dec. 2022
Before purchasing the pumpkin, rap on it with you knuckle in several spots to ensure there aren’t any soft spots, which indicate rot.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 11 Aug. 2021
Patients aren’t strapped to a hospital bed, white-knuckling it through withdrawal; instead, they are gradually weaned off the drugs outside the hospital over the course of months.
—Lindsay Beyerstein, The New Republic, 10 Mar. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knuckle.' 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 knuckle
Cite this Entry
“Knuckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knuckle. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knuckle
1 of 2 noun
knuck·le
ˈnək-əl
1
: the rounded lump formed by the ends of two bones where they come together in a joint
especially
: such a lump at a finger joint
2
: any of several parts (as the hock or shank or a tarsal joint) of the leg of a four-footed animal as used for food
knuckle
2 of 2 verb
knuckled; knuckling
ˈnək-(ə-)liŋ
: to place the knuckles on the ground in shooting a marble
Medical Definition
knuckle
noun
knuck·le
ˈnək-əl
1
a
: the rounded prominence formed by the ends of the two adjacent bones at a joint
—used especially of those at the joints of the fingers
b
: the joint of a knuckle
2
: a sharply flexed loop of intestines incarcerated in a hernia
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