knockout

1 of 3

noun

knock·out ˈnäk-ˌau̇t

Synonyms of knockout next

: the act of knocking out : the condition of being knocked out

b(1)

: the termination of a boxing match when one boxer has been knocked down and is unable to rise and resume boxing within a specified time

(2)

: technical knockout

: a blow that knocks out an opponent

: a sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive person or thing

knockout

2 of 3

adjective

: causing a knockout

a knockout blow

: sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive

a knockout dress

: having all or part of a gene eliminated or inactivated by genetic engineering

knockout mice predisposed to diabetes mellitus

knock out

3 of 3

verb

knocked out; knocking out; knocks out

transitive verb

: to produce roughly or hastily

a(1)

: to defeat (a boxing opponent) by a knockout

(2)

: to make unconscious

the drug knocked him out

: to make inoperative or useless

electricity was knocked out by the storm

: to get rid of : eliminate

knocked out illegal gambling

: to tire out : exhaust

knocked themselves out with work

: to cause (an opposing pitcher) to be removed from a baseball game by a batting rally

Example Sentences

Noun He won the match by a knockout. He scored a knockout in the fourth round. She's a real knockout in that dress. Adjective The Wimbledon tennis tournament is a knockout competition. a knockout sports car that's the talk of the neighborhood Verb the entire staff knocked itself out getting the project finished on time See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After wobbling for much of the night, and grinding through long stretches in their first trip back to Petco Park since last year’s playoff elimination, the Dodgers finally produced a knockout smash. —

Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2023 But Shelton didn't hesitate for a second when host Carson Daly gave the coaches a chance to use their lone save of the knockouts this season. —

Journal Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2023 The late Warren Casey, dead at age 53 in 1988, was a great American songwriter and his knockout numbers are still an extraordinary pleasure to hear. —

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2023 The knockout cast brings spot-on intensity to the story, while also doing justice to vivid personalities and moments of humor. —

Celia Wren, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2023 Bateman went on to direct and star in the Netflix knockout series Ozark as Marty Byrde, which won him an Emmy Award for outstanding directing for a drama series in 2019 and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for best actor. —

Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2023 The local lads can still gear up a victory the old-fashioned Ranger way, a Power-in-the-Park show to provide all the necessary knockout blows. —

Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 31 Mar. 2023 The main course delivers the climactic knockout blow. —

Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023 Indianapolis Star An array of elements led to a knockout performance as Hanover Central turned out the lights on Kankakee Valley 65-31 in an Indiana boys basketball matchup. —

Indy Star Sports, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Feb. 2023

Adjective

The knockout blow to the fighter, as Findeisen gleefully pointed out, was the name of the fake NFT project, SourzNFT Candies are Moundbound. —

Leo Schwartz, Fortune Crypto, 3 Feb. 2023 Addison Rae added to the ever-growing list of knockout vintage Y2K, donning a wrap skirt from Roberto Cavalli’s spring 2000 collection. —

André-naquian Wheeler, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2023 Every previous fight was decided by knockout, technical knockout or unanimous decision. —

Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2023 Marchand’s goal on the advantage, the knockout punch for the Fish Sticks, came at 5:03 of the third. —

Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Jan. 2023 Ferreira ended up starting the knockout round match against the Netherlands, an eventual 3-1 defeat for the U.S., but his effect on the game was minimal and he was subbed off to start the second half. —

Dallas News, 2 Jan. 2023 Then came the knockout punch, delivered by Samuel, who took a short pass 74 yards to the house for a 38-17 lead that placed the game in the blowout category. —

Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2023 Whereas some of these stronger medicines are like a knockout punch, think of CBD as a lullaby that soothes you into sleep and doesn’t just knock you out. —

Dallas News, 21 Oct. 2022 However, defeats to Portugal (3-2) and Uruguay (2-0) meant Ghana failed to progress to the knockout stage. —

Robert Kidd, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022

Verb

There ended up being a record attendance for that round with more fans showing up in Seattle — which had no team within 1,300 miles of the venue — than Greenville, South Carolina. ‘Canes were cooking Miami did more than just be part of history by knocking out No. 1 seed Indiana before the Sweet 16. —

Schulyer Dixon, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2023 There ended up being a record attendance for that round with more fans showing up in Seattle — which had no team within 1,300 miles of the venue — than Greenville, South Carolina. ’CANES WERE COOKING Miami did more than just be part of history by knocking out No. 1 seed Indiana before the Sweet 16. —

Schuyler Dixon, ajc, 3 Apr. 2023 There ended up being a record attendance for that round with more fans showing up in Seattle – which had no team within 1,300 miles of the venue – than Greenville, South Carolina. ‘Canes were cooking Miami did more than just be part of history by knocking out No. 1 seed Indiana before the Sweet 16. —

Schuyler Dixon, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2023 Now the Aztecs will have a chance to make the Final Four after knocking out No. 1 overall seed Alabama. —

Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2023 Michigan State basketball is moving onto the 2023 NCAA tournament second round, after knocking out USC, 72-62, on Friday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. —

Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023 Lutz said limiting Alabama’s transition and drawing fouls will be the key to knocking out a tournament favorite on the first day. —

Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 15 Mar. 2023 But after getting knocked out with a rifle, Joel wakes up in the hospital, where Marlene informs him that Ellie is being prepped for brain surgery to extract chemicals that could be used to create a vaccine against the Cordyceps fungal infection. —

ELLE, 13 Mar. 2023 This allows scientists to change DNA by knocking out a particular gene or inserting new genetic material at a predetermined site in the strand. —

Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knockout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.