knock over

verb

knocked over; knocking over; knocks over

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to strike to the ground : fell

(2)

: overwhelm

was knocked over by the news

b

: eliminate

knocked over every difficulty

2

a

: steal

especially : hijack

… knocks over a truckload of merchandise …

—J. B. Martin

b

: rob

knocking over a bank

Synonyms of knock over

• rob
• steal (from)

Examples of knock over in a Sentence

he knocked over six convenience stores before getting caught

knocked me over trying to get out the door

Recent Examples on the Web

Burke piles fascinating shuffling sounds on top, invoking a quiet scuffle, maybe some cardboard boxes being knocked over in a storage space. — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026

My husband throws a fit over every minor inconvenience, from the trash can being knocked over to the screen door being in his way. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Luckily, this deal squashes that qualm by knocking over $300 from the sticker shocker! — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026

Hotel security believed Zimmerman was intoxicated before his show during soundcheck, reportedly falling and stumbling onstage, throwing microphones, tossing cymbals, knocking over parts of his drum kit, swinging a guitar, and more. — Peter Burditt, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Rhymes for knock over

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover