knock up

Definition of knock upnext
British
as in to wake
to cause to stop sleeping I asked the clerk at the hotel to knock me up at 7:00 a.m.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 up Meanwhile, while Miranda busies herself with building a pageant empire, her husband Ray, a pill-popping nurse, has knocked up the 18-year-old granddaughter of one of his hospice patients. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025 Julia, worried, maintains that she’s not knocked up. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025 With 200 hp worth of empty space to play with before knocking up against the 600-hp V12 Verado, Mercury is dialing up the overall output of the V10 range by adding a new 425-hp variant as the flagship of the family. New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock up
Verb
  • Many people who are more active at night, stay up and wake later are subject to circadian misalignment, meaning their internal clocks aren’t necessarily compatible with real-world demands like waking up early for work.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Republicans say 'woke' is to blame.
    Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The mystery starts with a fireball crashing into a remote woodland, awakening a terrifying creature hidden in the depths.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 16 Feb. 2026
  • To awaken the Texans and to build the youth to be physically and mentally strong enough to defend this Great State of Texas and this Great Nation from the Synagogue of Satan and to be ready for World War 3 and Civil unrest between 2026-2028.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • With Golden State star Stephen Curry nursing a right knee injury, NBA commissioner Adam Silver awoke Tuesday needing to select a replacement player for Sunday’s All-Star tournament.
    Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Ashur awakes in this alternative timeline, but not all is blissful.
    Andrew McGowan, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Knock up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20up. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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