knock·down
ˈnäk-ˌdau̇n 
1
: having such force as to strike down or overwhelm
a bewildering assortment of knockdown arguments—
J. W. Krutch
J. W. Krutch2
: that can easily be assembled or disassembled
a knockdown table
3
chiefly British
: extremely low : reduced
knockdown prices
1
: the action of knocking down
2
: something (such as a blow) that strikes down or overwhelms
3
: something (such as a piece of furniture) that can be easily assembled or disassembled
knocked down; knocking down; knocks down
1
: to strike to the ground with or as if with a sharp blow : fell
2
: to dispose of (an item) to a bidder at an auction sale
3
: to take apart : disassemble
4
: to receive as income or salary : earn
positions where they were able to knock down good money—Infantry Journal
Infantry Journal5
: reduce
knocked the price down
6
basketball, informal
: to succeed in making (a jump shot or foul shot)
She scored 10 points on the night with three assists. She also knocked down three out of four free-throw attempts.—Niki Herbert
Niki HerbertPierce faked right, drove left, turned and knocked down a fadeaway jumper.—Jason Mastrodonato
Jason Mastrodonato
Synonyms
Examples of knockdown in a Sentence
Adjective
Now's your chance to buy these items at knockdown prices!
Verb
she's knocking down a good salary, but she has to work very hard
right after the holidays the stores start to knock down the window displays
Recent Examples on the WebDuane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 8 Feb. 2023
That competitive mariachi exists is a knockdown effect of this.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023
When the American Civil Liberties Union agreed to represent Collin, a philosophical dispute became a knockdown, drag-out battle.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2023
They are not blessed with knockdown shooters outside of senior guard David Singleton.
—Staff Writer
follow, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2023
From dilapidated homes selling for little more than a dollar, to ready-to-occupy houses at knockdown prices, there's been a frenzy of competition.
—Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 18 Nov. 2022
The 6-foot-8 Grant has provided energy at both ends of the court and has been a knockdown outside shooter.
—oregonlive, 4 Oct. 2022
Cal delivered a knockdown blow on the second play from scrimmage when Ott raced down the left sideline for a 73-yard touchdown.
—Michael Lev, The Arizona Republic, 24 Sep. 2022
Touted as a knockdown shooter entering the draft (42 percent on 5.5 attempts from long range at Auburn), Smith shot just 37.7 percent overall from the field in Summer League and just 25.9 percent from behind the arc.
—Rahat Huq, Chron, 5 Sep. 2022
Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2023
Latham didn’t allow a sack across 14 games as a freshman guard before winning the right tackle job a year ago and tallying 29 knockdown blocks.
—Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 6 Sep. 2023
Karine Silva battered Maryna Munoz with a plethora of leg kicks and punch combinations, scoring a knockdown.
—Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
During the final knockdown, Crawford hit Spence so hard, the Texan left his feet and almost fell out of the ring.
—Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2023
On one level, the decline of chewing gum is just another knockdown effect of the pandemic.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 1 July 2023
Hawkins is a knockdown shooter from midrange and behind the arc.
—Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY, 23 June 2023
Walker is a defensive monster at the four who’s current limitations as a shooter should be mitigated while paired with knockdown threats Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Myles Turner.
—Indystar Sports, The Indianapolis Star, 19 June 2023
Brown also reached career-best numbers with 67 tackles and seven pass knockdowns while recording his first interception.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 26 Jan. 2023
Kara Nelson, CNN, 15 Sep. 2023
The fire department couldn’t even knock down the doors.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023
Heavy fire knocked down on all 3 buildings, major overhauling throughout .
—Maeve Lawler, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Sep. 2023
Michael knocked down about 1,100 trees on Vance Hiers’ farm.
—Drew Kann, ajc, 1 Sep. 2023
Pascal Perich Angry customers knocking down store displays of LGBTQ+ merchandise and threatening sales associates.
—Hubert Joly, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2023
After the Supreme Court knocked down Biden’s earlier proposal for wiping out student loan debt, the administration turned to a different process for mass forgiveness allowed under the federal Higher Education Act.
—Nirvi Shah, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
The warnings cautioned that strong winds could knock down power lines and ignite a fire that would spread quickly due to dry conditions, the lawsuit indicated.
—Michelle Watson, CNN, 25 Aug. 2023
Hundreds of Muslim men knocked down the walls, desecrated the nave, burned copies of the Bible, and set fire to the furniture.
—Hasan Ali, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2023
See More
Adjective
The Suns need another knockdown shooter and could use a versatile four.
—Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 8 Feb. 2023
That competitive mariachi exists is a knockdown effect of this.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023
When the American Civil Liberties Union agreed to represent Collin, a philosophical dispute became a knockdown, drag-out battle.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2023
They are not blessed with knockdown shooters outside of senior guard David Singleton.
—Staff Writer
follow, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2023
From dilapidated homes selling for little more than a dollar, to ready-to-occupy houses at knockdown prices, there's been a frenzy of competition.
—Silvia Marchetti, CNN, 18 Nov. 2022
The 6-foot-8 Grant has provided energy at both ends of the court and has been a knockdown outside shooter.
—oregonlive, 4 Oct. 2022
Cal delivered a knockdown blow on the second play from scrimmage when Ott raced down the left sideline for a 73-yard touchdown.
—Michael Lev, The Arizona Republic, 24 Sep. 2022
Touted as a knockdown shooter entering the draft (42 percent on 5.5 attempts from long range at Auburn), Smith shot just 37.7 percent overall from the field in Summer League and just 25.9 percent from behind the arc.
—Rahat Huq, Chron, 5 Sep. 2022
Noun
Only four teams had more quarterback knockdowns than Cincinnati, which boasts a strong defensive front led by end Trey Hendrickson and tackle D.J. Reader.
—Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 14 Sep. 2023
Latham didn’t allow a sack across 14 games as a freshman guard before winning the right tackle job a year ago and tallying 29 knockdown blocks.
—Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 6 Sep. 2023
Karine Silva battered Maryna Munoz with a plethora of leg kicks and punch combinations, scoring a knockdown.
—Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023
During the final knockdown, Crawford hit Spence so hard, the Texan left his feet and almost fell out of the ring.
—Tyler R. Tynes, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2023
On one level, the decline of chewing gum is just another knockdown effect of the pandemic.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 1 July 2023
Hawkins is a knockdown shooter from midrange and behind the arc.
—Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY, 23 June 2023
Walker is a defensive monster at the four who’s current limitations as a shooter should be mitigated while paired with knockdown threats Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Myles Turner.
—Indystar Sports, The Indianapolis Star, 19 June 2023
Brown also reached career-best numbers with 67 tackles and seven pass knockdowns while recording his first interception.
—Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 26 Jan. 2023
Verb
The blast knocked down power lines and blew a hole in the side of the building, completely destroying the ladies restroom in the basement where a group of girls had been getting ready for church.
—Kara Nelson, CNN, 15 Sep. 2023
The fire department couldn’t even knock down the doors.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023
Heavy fire knocked down on all 3 buildings, major overhauling throughout .
—Maeve Lawler, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Sep. 2023
Michael knocked down about 1,100 trees on Vance Hiers’ farm.
—Drew Kann, ajc, 1 Sep. 2023
Pascal Perich Angry customers knocking down store displays of LGBTQ+ merchandise and threatening sales associates.
—Hubert Joly, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2023
After the Supreme Court knocked down Biden’s earlier proposal for wiping out student loan debt, the administration turned to a different process for mass forgiveness allowed under the federal Higher Education Act.
—Nirvi Shah, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
The warnings cautioned that strong winds could knock down power lines and ignite a fire that would spread quickly due to dry conditions, the lawsuit indicated.
—Michelle Watson, CNN, 25 Aug. 2023
Hundreds of Muslim men knocked down the walls, desecrated the nave, burned copies of the Bible, and set fire to the furniture.
—Hasan Ali, The Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knockdown.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near knockdown
Cite this Entry
“Knockdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knockdown. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
knock down
verb1
: to strike to the ground with or as if with a sharp blow
2
: to sell to the highest bidder at an auction
3
: to take apart
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