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 gypsy
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
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.
Recent Examples of knock (about)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock (about)
Verb
-
Animals roam freely without the need for paved paths.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
12 May 2025
-
Phillip left that night with a wad of cash, and, still under the influence, began roaming the city.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.—
Sonal Dutt,
Peoplemag,
23 Jan. 2023
Verb
-
Without the puck, Nurse and Bouchard have the same weakness (read and react, wandering).—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
Instead, Shuai wanders about pouring other people’s drinks.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
Adjective
-
Their throats may have been boisterous, singing loud and long, but their eyes were shot with worry.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
In the practiced government kabuki of these events, commissioners spoke, proposals were voted on unanimously, and chairman Brendan Carr, appointed by Donald Trump, ran things smoothly, though his demeanor was rather boisterous.—
Steven Levy,
Wired News,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
Rebalance Regularly Over time, your portfolio may drift from your original allocation due to market movements.—
Francis Gingras Roy,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
-
But the bullpen has drifted to the bottom third of the league thanks to a series of changes from last year, none bigger than Hoffman’s signing in Toronto.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
The user's tale went on to generate a lively conversation in the comments section of the post.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
8 May 2025
-
Domingo, one of the earliest VIP arrivals at the party, was showing off his style on the lane, ball in hand, as the lively room continued to fill up.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
5 May 2025
Verb
-
Challenging the narrative Defense attorney Stuart Adelstein strolled over to the lectern, his eyes piercing the jurors just feet away from him.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2025
-
The Courant reported, in a story written in 1991, when the Pedlar approached its 100th anniversary, that the inn had seen many famous people stroll into its Victorian-style lobby and its dining room.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
The defending champions are now in real danger of being eliminated with the next two games at a raucous Madison Square Garden.—
Matias Grez,
CNN Money,
8 May 2025
-
Newsrooms then were raucous places, filled with loud voices, the constant clacking of typewriters, cigarette smoke and big, colorful personalities.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share