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
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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
-
Among the chaos is Rupert Friend, playing Martin Krebs, who's assembling a group to take to the scene of the devastation in hopes of extracting DNA from the creatures roaming the island to fund his next medical breakthrough.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
-
Bear numbers swelled, and by the mid-2000s, more than 600 bears roamed the Yellowstone area.—
Christine Peterson,
Vox,
27 June 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
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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
-
Partygoers wandered the streets, drinks in hand, wearing Scrim costumes made from furry onesies.—
David W. Brown,
New Yorker,
5 July 2025
-
Read a book, breathe deeply or just let your mind wander.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
-
Keys’ exit left just one of the top six women in the bracket before the end of Week 1: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who stuck around by claiming the last five games and defeating 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu of Britain 7-6 (6), 6-4 at a boisterous Centre Court at night.—
Howard Fendrich,
Baltimore Sun,
4 July 2025
-
Throughout a boisterous show with countless distorted jam sessions, White shuffled, squealed, stomped and screamed.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 July 2025
-
Without that connection, even high-output leaders can drift into disengagement or overwork disguised as drive.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adjective
-
In February, a lively and well-attended protest march took over the streets of downtown McAllen; a news site compared it to a celebration after a high-school-football victory.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
7 July 2025
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The nightlife scene is surprisingly buzzy, with local favorites such as the Silver Dollar Bar and Saloon and the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar offering live music and a lively crowd.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
5 July 2025
Verb
-
Usher, 46, and his wife strolled around together in casual attire, while Gates, 69, and his serious girlfriend coordinated in black outfits.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
27 June 2025
-
Into this world strolls Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a rough-around-the-edges veteran driver who (literally) crashed out of Formula One several decades ago.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Reporters were not allowed to attend the meeting, but the raucous crowd could be heard from outside.—
Vanessa Romo,
NPR,
7 July 2025
-
Johnson was then lauded with the award statuette, to another round of raucous applause.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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