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
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
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
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
Seeing a knockabout comedy set outdoors is a whole different barrel of laughs.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
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
-
This particular giant roamed Southeast Asia during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 100 to 120 million years ago.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
The new enclosure will allow the giraffes to roam inside and outside, eliminating what used to be a long walk from the zoo’s African Savanna to their housing barn.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Murphy then appeared on stage to a rollicking standing ovation and made his way to his place at the dais toward the back of the room.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Those self-aware lyrics are paired with breezy melody and a gently rollicking rhythm, making this feel like a freewheeling summertime favorite.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This system is ideal for the connected nomad, designed for those who need internet access while traveling, camping, using an RV, or in temporary locations.—
Brian Westover,
PC Magazine,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Using advanced sensors and robotic manipulation, these nuclear nomads can perform inspections and repairs that previously required massive protective gear and strict time limits.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As anyone familiar with East Tennessee knows, black bears wandering through Gatlinburg neighborhoods, parking lots and hotels is hardly unusual this time of year.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
The best date is just wandering the old town.—
Riza Cruz,
Vogue,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Reuters — The Republican speaker of Tennessee’s House of Representatives on Tuesday stripped Democratic lawmakers of all committee assignments as punishment for their role in boisterous protests during last week’s special session on redistricting.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
-
When hearing another boisterous laugh.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The cougars that make their way through Minnesota are believed to be lone wanderers from the Dakotas and Nebraska.—
Aki Nace,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Angel was able to swap some Yokohama Geolandars over from his previous wanderer-spec ride, a Honda Element.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Order a bowl of seafood chowder or a hearty breakfast, then settle in by the windows overlooking Thomas Basin, where floatplanes and fishing boats drift past throughout the day.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Fifty years later, the Asian District runs about a mile long but feels like visiting a number of countries at once, as the smell of star anise and fish sauce drifting out of open doors alongside the sound of Spanish from a taqueria two storefronts down.—
Heide Brandes,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Frying is an art, perhaps plied nowhere with such efficiency and aplomb as at this lively lunch counter, where the very air seems to crackle and the scent of pork incites the blood.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Lochte, 41, was one of the faces of swimming during the heights of his career, with major sponsorships, endorsements and appearances on TV shows displaying his lively personality.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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