doorknob

noun

door·​knob ˈdȯr-ˌnäb How to pronounce doorknob (audio)
: a knob that releases a door latch

Examples of doorknob in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Harry clutching a red-hot doorknob, Marv taking a paint can to the face — right up to the gruesome sound effect, then had the music stand down for the sizzling or thwacking payoff. Tim Greiving, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025 Kids rub their eyes, touch a phone or a doorknob, and the virus can sit there for days waiting to reinfect someone. Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 29 Aug. 2025 The fungus can survive on surfaces, like countertops, doorknobs, or even people’s skin, for a long time before spreading to vulnerable patients. Alix Martichoux, The Hill, 20 Aug. 2025 The owner, Johnson Wheatley, opened the door and stood aside, hand still on the doorknob. Annie Proulx, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for doorknob

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doorknob was in 1835

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Cite this Entry

“Doorknob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doorknob. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

doorknob

noun
door·​knob -ˌnäb How to pronounce doorknob (audio)
: a knob that when turned releases a door latch

More from Merriam-Webster on doorknob

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