knife

1 of 2

noun

plural knives ˈnīvz How to pronounce knife (audio)
often attributive
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 sense 4
usually used in the phrase under the knife
knifelike adjective

knife

2 of 2

verb

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

Examples of knife in a Sentence

Noun Each dinner guest gets two forks, a knife, and a spoon. He pulled a knife on me and threatened to stab me with it. Verb He died after being knifed in the chest. ships knifing through the waves
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.
Noun
Cut corn kernels from the cob using a sharp knife; discard cobs. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025 The employee went home but then returned with a kitchen knife and stabbed Harris multiple times shortly before 8 a.m., police said. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
Verb
As pink soldiers begin removing the dead from the hide-and-seek room, a red player attempts to knife a soldier. Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 27 June 2025 Ferguson turned to his new victim, knifing him in the upper body and buttocks. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for knife

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1865, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of knife was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Knife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knife. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

knife

1 of 2 noun
plural knives ˈnīvz How to pronounce knife (audio)
1
: a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle
2
: a cutting blade in a machine

knife

2 of 2 verb
knifed; knifing
1
: to stab, slash, or wound with a knife
2
: to move like a knife
ships knifing through the sea

Medical Definition

knife

noun
plural knives ˈnīvz How to pronounce knife (audio)
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 sense 3
usually used in the phrase under the knife
went under the knife yesterday
was afraid of the knife

More from Merriam-Webster on knife

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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