KO

2 of 2

verb

KO'd kā-ˈōd How to pronounce KO (audio)
ˈkā-(ˌ)ōd
; KO'ing kā-ˈō-iŋ How to pronounce KO (audio)
ˈkā-(ˌ)ō-iŋ

transitive verb

: to knock out (as in boxing)

Examples of KO in a Sentence

Noun He scored a KO in the second round. Verb He was KO'd in the second round.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Antonio Clark 95-yard KO return TD. Josh Krockey, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025 On the feet, Prates is likely more dangerous and more likely to win by KO, but not by a huge margin. Brett Appley, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025 Here’s the video of the first round KO. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025 Founded by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, Studio KO has built a cult following among fashion houses and creative tastemakers alike. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 June 2025 Nawrocki's rival, Rafal Trzaskowski, the liberal Warsaw mayor who was standing for Tusk's ruling Civic Coalition (KO), got 49.11%, the data showed. Anna Magdalena Lubowicka, USA Today, 3 June 2025 Trzaskowski, from the ruling Civic Coalition (KO), got 31.36% of votes in the first round of presidential election on Sunday. Reuters, CNN Money, 19 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

knock out

First Known Use

Noun

1911, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of KO was in 1911

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“KO.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/KO. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

KO

1 of 2 noun
(ˈ)kā-ˈō How to pronounce KO (audio)
ˈkā-ō
plural KO's
: a knockout in boxing

KO

2 of 2 verb
KO'd kā-ˈōd How to pronounce KO (audio)
ˈkā-ōd
; KO'ing -ˈō-iŋ How to pronounce KO (audio)
-ō-
: to knock out in boxing

More from Merriam-Webster on KO

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!