knife

noun, often attributive \ ˈnīf \

|Updated on: 17 Aug 2018

Examples: knife in a Sentence

Definition of knife

plural knives play \ˈnīvz\

1 a : a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle

b : a weapon or tool resembling a knife

2 : a sharp cutting blade or tool in a machine

3 : surgery 4 —usually used in the phrase under the knife

—

knifelike

play \ˈnīf-ˌlīk\ adjective

See knife defined for English-language learners

See knife defined for kids

Examples of knife in a Sentence

Each dinner guest gets two forks, a knife, and a spoon.
He pulled a knife on me and threatened to stab me with it.

Recent Examples of knife from the Web

Last summer, a van filled with knife-wielding terrorists rammed into crowds on London Bridge, murdering eight people and leaving 48 more injured.

— david lammy, Time, "I'm a British Lawmaker. Here's Why I’m Protesting Trump’s Visit to the U.K.," 10 July 2018
The victim was peppered with cigarette ashes, and then his hair was cut with a knife until his scalp bled.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Man sentenced for hate crime in live-streamed beating of mentally disabled teen," 6 July 2018
Flynn saw Shoupe sprinting toward him with the knife, according to an interview with Flynn cited in Merriweather's report.

— jane wester, charlotteobserver, "He had a knife, and an officer shot and killed him. That cop won't be charged, DA says.," 13 June 2018
Two police officers in Florida were injured by a knife-wielding man in a wheelchair, according to a news release.

— kelly healey, ajc, "Police: Florida officers injured by man in wheelchair wielding 9-inch knife," 28 May 2018
Seventeen months after she was wounded by a knife-wielding home invader, the police in the Czech Republic announced this week that a suspect had been taken into custody, but did not name him.

— ben rothenberg, New York Times, "Petra Kvitova Enters French Open With a Little More Peace of Mind," 25 May 2018
On Saturday night, a knife-wielding attacker killed one person and injured four in Paris's popular 2nd arrondissement, not far from the Paris opera house in an area filled with restaurants and theaters.

— sebastian modak, Condé Nast Traveler, "After Knife Attack, What You Need to Know About Visiting Paris," 14 May 2018
Wochit Phoenix police have identified a knife-wielding man shot early Sunday morning as 49-year-old Steven Scheuer.

— perry vandell, azcentral, "Phoenix Police identify man shot by police," 14 May 2018
The officers said Gongora-Pat came at them with a knife, but the dead man’s relatives and others wondered why officers advanced on him so quickly.

— evan sernoffsky, San Francisco Chronicle, "Stephon Clark’s killing raises tough question: Should cops always charge in?," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knife.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of knife

Middle English knif, from Old English cnīf, perhaps from Old Norse knīfr; akin to Middle Low German knīf knife

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

knife Synonyms

Synonyms

blade, cutter;

Related Words

cleaver, hack;

bayonet, bodkin, bolo, bowie knife, cutlass, dagger, dirk, jackknife, machete, pocketknife, poniard, sheath knife, stiletto, stylet, switchblade, yataghan;

rapier, saber (or sabre), steel, sword;

scalpel;

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

knife

verb

Definition of knife

knifed; knifing

transitive verb

1 : to use a knife on; specifically : to stab, slash, or wound with a knife

2 : to cut, mark, or spread with a knife

3 : to try to defeat by underhanded means

4 : to move like a knife in

birds knifing the autumn sky

intransitive verb

: to cut a way with or as if with a knife blade

the cruiser knifed through the heavy seas

See knife defined for English-language learners

Examples of knife in a Sentence

He died after being knifed in the chest.
ships knifing through the waves

Recent Examples of knife from the Web

In 1999 Angela Merkel knifed Wolfgang Schäuble in a steely newspaper op-ed implicitly linking him to the corruption scandal that had consumed Helmut Kohl, his political mentor.

— The Economist, "The politics of migration in Germany," 21 June 2018
One simulation found that the shadows of the highest towers may knife a mile into the park on the winter solstice.

— catherine cusick, Longreads, "The Urban Crisis of Affluence," 21 June 2018
Lava from Kilauea has also downed power lines and knifed across highways.

— sophia yan and malcolm ritter, The Christian Science Monitor, "Hawaii volcano spews out lava ... and information for scientists," 7 June 2018
As Andersen regrouped and squared to the rebound, center Johan Larsson knifed toward the puck.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "Ambiguous Goalie Interference Rules Continue to Bemuse NHL Ahead of Playoffs," 11 Apr. 2018
With the Wolf Pack rushing into the offensive zone, Drew Melanson, playing his second pro game out of Boston University, knifed the puck on net from the right side, and Gropp buried the rebound.

— staff report, courant.com, "Providence Bruins 6, Hartford Wolf Pack 3," 6 Apr. 2018
Within seconds, several marshals in green jackets (not those green jackets) knifed through the gallery.

— teddy greenstein, chicagotribune.com, "Masters crowd showers Tiger Woods with love, but he gives them little to cheer on Day 1," 5 Apr. 2018
But Bryan Braham knifed through and tackled Burkhead at the New England 9-yard line.

— mike sielski, Philly.com, "After winning the Super Bowl, where can the Eagles improve? There's one obvious answer | Mike Sielski," 16 Mar. 2018
But Quinndary Weatherspoon, who led Mississippi State with 20 points, knifed through the lane for a layup seconds later.

— aaron reiss, kansascity, "Shorthanded Mizzou falls to Mississippi State," 27 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of knife

1865

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

KNIFE Defined for English Language Learners

knife

noun

Definition of knife for English Language Learners

: a usually sharp blade attached to a handle that is used for cutting or as a weapon

knife

verb

Definition of knife for English Language Learners

: to injure (someone) with a knife
: to move easily and quickly like a knife cutting through something

KNIFE Defined for Kids

knife

noun \ ˈnīf \

Definition of knife for Students

plural knives \ˈnīvz\

1 : a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle

2 : a cutting blade in a machine

knife

verb

Definition of knife for Students

knifes; knifed; knifing

: to stab, slash, or wound with a knife

Medical Dictionary

knife

noun \ ˈnīf \

medical Definition of knife

plural knives play \ˈnīvz\

1 : any of various instruments used in surgery primarily to sever tissues: as

a : a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade attached to a handle

b : an instrument that cuts by means of an electric current

2 : surgery 3 —usually used in the phrase under the knife

went under the knife yesterday

was afraid of the knife

Learn More about knife

See words that rhyme with knife Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for knife Spanish Central: Translation of knife Nglish: Translation of knife for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of knife for Arabic speakers

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knife

Definition of knife

knifelike

Examples of knife in a Sentence

Recent Examples of knife from the Web

Origin and Etymology of knife

knife Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

knife

Definition of knife

Examples of knife in a Sentence

Recent Examples of knife from the Web

First Known Use of knife

Phrases Related to KNIFE

Related Phrases

KNIFE Defined for English Language Learners

knife

Definition of knife for English Language Learners

knife

Definition of knife for English Language Learners

KNIFE Defined for Kids

knife

Definition of knife for Students

knife

Definition of knife for Students

Medical Dictionary

knife

medical Definition of knife

Learn More about knife

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