knock

1 of 2

verb

ˈnäk 

knocked; knocking; knocks

intransitive verb

1

: to strike something with a sharp blow

2

: to collide with something

3

a

: bustle

heard them knocking around in the kitchen

b

: wander

knocked about Europe all summer

4

a

: to make a pounding noise

b

: to have engine knock

5

: to find fault

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to strike sharply

(2)

: to drive, force, or make by or as if by so striking

was knocked out of the campaign

b

: to set forcibly in motion with a blow

2

: to cause to collide

3

: to find fault with

always knocking those in authority

knock

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a sharp blow : rap, hit

a loud knock on the door

b(1)

: a severe misfortune or hardship

(2)

: setback, reversal

2

a

: a pounding noise

b

: a sharp repetitive metallic noise caused by abnormal ignition in an automobile engine

3

: a harsh and often petty criticism

the knock on him was that he couldn't handle the pressure

Phrases

knock cold

: knock out sense 2a(1)

knock dead

: to move strongly especially to admiration or applause

a comedian who really knocks them dead

knock for a loop

1

a

: overcome

knocked my opponent for a loop

b

: demolish

knocked our idea for a loop

2

: dumbfound, amaze

the news knocked them for a loop

knock one's socks off

: to overwhelm or amaze one

a performance that will knock your socks off

knock on wood

—used interjectionally to ward off misfortune

knock together

: to make or assemble especially hurriedly or in a makeshift way

knocked together my own bookcase

Synonyms

Verb

• bang
• bash
• bump
• collide
• crash
• hit
• impact
• impinge
• ram
• slam
• smash
• strike
• swipe
• thud

Noun

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples of knock in a Sentence

Verb

The ball knocked him on the chin.

She knocked the glass from his hand.

He knocked the baseball over the fence.

The ball hit him in the mouth and knocked out one of his teeth.

The wind knocked him backwards.

The dog knocked against the lamp.

My knee accidentally knocked against the table.

Skaters were knocking into each other all over the ice.

I accidentally knocked my knee against the table.

Noun

He gave him a knock on the head.

There was a loud knock at the door.

She took some knocks early in her career.

He likes praise but can't stand the knocks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

On Monday, prosecutors showed the jury footage from a 2016 incident at a Los Angeles hotel in which Combs is shown approaching Ventura in a hallway and knocking her to the floor before kicking her and dragging her back into their hotel room. —Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Amid the fighting, one boy punched another in the face, knocking him to the ground, and then began punching several other children. —Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 14 May 2025

Noun

The biggest knocks on Sawyer were his subpar measurables (31 3/4-inch arms) and the lack of bend or nuance in his pass-rush plan. —Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 14 May 2025

Officers responded to the apartment but left when their knocks went unanswered, the newspaper reported. —Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English knoken, from Old English cnocian; akin to Middle High German knochen to press

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing knock

• anti-knock
• don't knock it until you've tried it
• hard-knock
• hit/knock (someone) for six
• knock around
• knock back
• knock/blow someone's socks off
• knock down
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• knock-down, drag-out
• knock heads
• knock in
• knock it out of the park
• knock-knee
• knock-knock joke
• knock off
• knock on doors
• knock-on effect
• knock oneself out
• knock on the door of
• knock out
• knock over
• knock someone flying
• knock (someone) off his/her pedestal
• knock someone's head/block off
• knock (someone) sideways
• knock some sense into someone
• knock some sense into someone's head
• knock (something) on the head
• knock spots off
• knock the stuffing out of
• knock the wind out of (someone)
• knock up
• take/knock/bring someone down a peg
• throw/knock (someone) off (his/her) stride

Rhymes for knock

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

knock

1 of 2 verb

ˈnäk 

1

a

: to strike with a sharp blow

b

: to set in motion with a sharp blow

2

: to bump against something

3

: wander sense 1

knocked about the country last summer

4

: to have engine knock

5

: to find fault with

don't knock it—there are worse jobs

knock

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sharp blow

2

: a severe misfortune or hardship

3

a

: a pounding noise

heard a knock on the door

b

: a sharp rattling noise caused by abnormal ignition in an automobile engine

Medical Definition

knock

noun

ˈnäk 

1

: a sharp blow

a knock to the head

2

: a sharp pounding noise