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 MastrodonatoExamples 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 Web
Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 8 Feb. 2023
That competitive mariachi exists is a knockdown effect of this.
—Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
O’Brien’s words echoed the taunts that the two had thrown back and forth at each other in an actual Senate hearing that almost ended in a knockdown, drag-out fight.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
The developer — Southford Park LLC — has plans to knock down the Timex building and replace it with a warehouse and distribution center of 670,000 square feet in two buildings, nearly 10 times the size of Timex.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knockdown
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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
Noun
After both players helmets got knocked off, Kastelic scored the knockdown with an overhand right.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
O’Brien’s words echoed the taunts that the two had thrown back and forth at each other in an actual Senate hearing that almost ended in a knockdown, drag-out fight.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
Virginia made one last push, cutting TCU’s lead to 65-55, but the Horned Frogs quickly delivered the knockout blow as Miles knocked down a 3 and Suarez hit sophomore center Clara Silva for a layup to end Virginia’s hopes of another upset.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2026
The developer — Southford Park LLC — has plans to knock down the Timex building and replace it with a warehouse and distribution center of 670,000 square feet in two buildings, nearly 10 times the size of Timex.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for knockdown
Cite this Entry
“Knockdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knockdown. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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