Definition of knock
intransitive verb
1 : to strike something with a sharp blow
2 : to collide with something
3a : bustle heard them knocking around in the kitchenb : wander knocked about Europe all summer
4a : to make a pounding noiseb : to have engine knock
5 : to find fault
transitive verb
1a (1) : to strike sharply (2) : to drive, force, or make by or as if by so striking was knocked out of the campaignb : to set forcibly in motion with a blow
2 : to cause to collide
3 : to find fault with always knocking those in authority
knock cold
knock dead
knock for a loop
knock one's socks off
knock on wood
knock together
People Are Reading
Examples of knock in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of knock from the Web
-
By signalling that Uber’s valuation is too high its new boss would knock valuations across the ride-hailing industry and slow the flood of speculative capital—in the end, a good thing.
-
This is a trope that has been examined extensively and knocked down.
-
The first and second floors were knocked down, D.C. firefighters said on Twitter.
-
Johnny Horne, Audrey’s emotionally disturbed brother, seems to have killed himself via blunt head trauma, knocking down a photo of a waterfall in the process.
-
GC America bought the Lombard Office and Industrial Park directly to the west of its headquarters, with plans to knock down the existing structures and build on the site.
-
That would require knocking down an unexpected launch, with a warhead possibly masked by sophisticated decoys launched under adverse conditions.
-
Minnesota beats Green Bay, knocks us out of the playoffs like that last year (of Smith's tenure) — that was my last year as well.
-
On Sunday, President Trump tweeted out a gif of himself clotheslining someone, knocking him to the ground, and then pummeling him at an old WWE event.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knock.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of knock
Middle English knoken, from Old English cnocian; akin to Middle High German knochen to press
knock
Definition of knock
1a : a sharp blow : rap, hit a loud knock on the doorb (1) : a severe misfortune or hardship (2) : setback, reversal
2a : a pounding noiseb : 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
Examples of knock in a Sentence
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.
First Known Use of knock
14th century
KNOCK Defined for English Language Learners
knock
playDefinition of knock for English Language Learners
-
: to hit something (such as a door) with the knuckles of your hand or with a hard object (such as a knocker) in order to get people's attention
-
: to hit (something or someone) in a forceful way
-
: to touch or hit someone or something in a way that is not planned or intended
knock
Definition of knock for English Language Learners
-
: a hard, sharp hit
-
: the sound made by a hard hit
-
: an experience that makes you less confident or successful for a period of time : a difficult or painful experience
KNOCK Defined for Kids
Definition of knock for Students
knocked
;knocking
1 : to strike in order to get someone's attention I knocked before entering.
2 : to bump against something without intending to Careful! You knocked the lamp.
3 : to make a pounding noise The car's engine began knocking.
4 : to find fault with Don't knock it till you try it.
5 : to hit forcefully He knocked the ball out of the park.
knock down
1 : to strike to the ground with or as if with a sharp blow
2 : to take apart Knock down the tent before you leave camp.
knock off
: to stop doing something Hey, I don't like that, so knock it off!
knock over
Definition of knock for Students
1 : a pounding noise I heard a knock at the door.
2 : a sharp blow a knock on the head
3 : a difficult or painful experience You learn from life's knocks.
Medical Dictionary
knock
playMedical Definition of knock
1: a sharp blow a knock to the head
2: a sharp pounding noise
Learn More about knock
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for knock Spanish Central: Translation of knock Nglish: Translation of knock for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of knock for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up knock? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!