as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
we knocked about from town to town, looking for work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in rollicking
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a knockabout game of football in the mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nomad
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
the book is one writer's journey of self-discovery as a restless knockabout
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock (about)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Though thematically vague, thinly plotted and without a reliably sympathetic soul to cling to, the movie has a mutinous energy and an absurd, knockabout charm; even its violence is more quirky than brutal.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Noun
This new film is a very black comedy that is also a heist story with some bloody violence, along with a bit of knockabout slapstick and a theme of family bonds.
—Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock (about)
Verb
-
However, this doesn’t mean that the chimps are roaming around intoxicated.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
-
The bison roaming Yellowstone National Park, an elephant herd thundering across the African terrain in Tanzania or Botswana, a humpback whale breaching off the coast of Hawaii or Mexico.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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His lightning guitar work — alongside a mandolinist, fiddler, upright-bassist and banjo player who are not too shabby on their respective strings themselves — delivered a rollicking half-hour that gave the fans in the bleachers plenty to dance to.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
21 Sep. 2025
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Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
4 Feb. 2023
Noun
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These friends, all Amazigh (Berber) nomads, have embarked on a musical voyage to celebrate their roots and share the richness of their heritage with the world.—
Jake Richardson,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
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Their sophomore effort is a fantasy following Princess Diana, who falls in love with young nomad Lalo against her father’s wishes.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The moment-to-moment action is predicated on wandering the city, picking up little bits of information from people, and diving into Wild Zones to battle and capture more Pokémon.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
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Add in a 160-liter freshwater tank, diesel heat and hot water via Webasto, and the freedom to wander suddenly looks very comfortable.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The closeups of faces, hugely magnified on the Piazza’s screen—noble workers and boisterous bosses alike—could, in a certain light, be viewed as Expressionist updates of dell’Arca for a post-religious age, barrelling toward a dangerous new faith.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
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Tkachuk, the Florida Panthers’ star winger with a boisterous personality and is unafraid to speak his mind, was the guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay live from the University of Miami campus.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At a heavier mass, the magnetic field can't keep up, and the particle starts to drift and slam into the side of the circular chamber.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
23 Sep. 2025
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Per the Florida Highway Patrol, the 44-year-old woman, who has not been named, was driving a Kia sedan southbound on the highway, and then drifted into the northbound lane.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Experience lively music, traditional dance and authentic Latin American cuisine.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
24 Sep. 2025
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Among the liveliest of the city’s Christmas markets, the event features a fondue restaurant, bars, toasty fire pits, and about 100 wooden stalls.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Denver offers a wide variety of activities that cater to all travelers.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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For travelers across the Carolinas and beyond, visiting this season is a powerful way to support local communities in their rebuilding efforts.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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