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
Weapons of any kind (no knives or mace/pepper spray of any size). Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 1 Dec. 2024 However, such penetration is much more likely with something sharp like a knife or fast-moving and hard like a bullet. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
Christian Alicea, 25, was knifed multiple times in the chest outside an apartment building on Bryant Ave. near Lafayette Ave. Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 27 Nov. 2024 Two tourists were stabbed last week in random attacks, one a 55-year-old from Denmark who was knifed on the Upper West Side, the other a 42-year-old Italian slashed on the hand. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near knife

Cite this Entry

“Knife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knife. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

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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