knit

1 of 3

verb

ˈnit 

knit or knitted; knitting

transitive verb

1

: to form by interlacing yarn or thread in a series of connected loops with needles

2

a

: to link firmly or closely

knitted my hands

b

: to cause to grow together

time and rest will knit a fractured bone

c

: to contract into wrinkles

knitted her brow

3

chiefly dialectal : to tie together

intransitive verb

1

: to make knitted fabrics or objects

2

a

: to become compact

b

: to grow together

c

: to become drawn together

knitter noun

knit

2 of 3

noun

1

: knit stitch

2

a

: a knit fabric

b

knits plural : knitwear

knit

3 of 3

adjective

variants or knitted

1

: made from fabric formed by interlacing yarn or thread in a series of connected loops with needles : made from a knitted fabric

red knit socks

a knit/knitted cap

2

: involving connections or bonds between things or people

a novel with a tightly knit plot

… a closely knit team of specialists and medical care professionals.

—Dorothea D. Glass

A record is usually the result of a small, tightly knit team working in very close contact and with a continuity of attention.

—Brian Eno

Examples of knit in a Sentence

Verb

a style that knits together material from many different sources

a town knit together by farming

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

No one does a chunky knit better than Italians. —Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 1 Oct. 2025

This Amazon Essentials robe is a soft and breathable waffle knit that feels as luxurious as a spa robe, but at a budget-friendly price. —L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025

Noun

The pop-up features an exclusive capsule collection called The Dressing Room that’s made up of the items that Beckham wears in the Netflix documentary, from cashmere knits, crisp shirting and denim to cocktail dresses and eveningwear. —Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025

Lillusory Oversized Batwing Sweater High-quality knits often come with a hefty price tag, but this batwing sweater is under $30 today. —Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025

Adjective

The best leather pants can be true wardrobe heroes this time of year, along with a standby jacket and your favorite boots—all easy to style with your favorite knit pieces, stylish tailoring, and even the simple white T-shirt. —Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025

The quirky phrases are super fun, and the knit design is adorable. —Jamie Fischer, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English knitten, from Old English cnyttan; akin to Old English cnotta knot

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing knit

• cable-knit
• close-knit
• double knit
• knit one's brow/brows
• knit stitch
• tight-knit
• warp knit
• weft knit
• well-knit

Rhymes for knit

• bit
• brit
• britt
• chit
• fit
• flit
• grit
• hit
• it
• kitt
• lit
• mitt

Kids Definition

knit

1 of 2 verb

ˈnit 

knit or knitted; knitting

1

: to form a fabric or garment by interlacing yarn or thread in connected loops with needles

knit a sweater

2

: to draw or come together closely as if knitted : unite firmly

wait for a broken bone to knit

3

: wrinkle entry 2

knit her brow

knitter noun

knit

2 of 2 noun

: a knit fabric or garment

Medical Definition

knit

verb

ˈnit 

knit or knitted; knitting

transitive verb

: to cause to grow together

time and rest will knit a fractured bone

intransitive verb

: to grow together

fractures in old bones knit slowly