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
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
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
-
Under Dino Toppmoller, Uzun has evolved from Mario Gotze’s understudy last season into a roaming second striker within a direct, vertical system.—
Sukhman Singh,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Accompanied by a nonchalant guitar performance, dancer and choreographer Dong Jilan, donning a brown velvet dress and having the same long, wavy hair as Sanmao, woke up from a miniature dune and roamed around the set in a highly spiritual and ceremonial fashion.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Sometimes, though, nomads fall in love with a new country and want to stay forever.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
From wandering rare palm forests to navigating ancient waterways and spotting hundreds of migrating bird species, outdoor enthusiasts have much to explore.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Sometimes, it was described as fantastical, depicting unrealistic and strange juxtapositions, as though the black people in his paintings had wandered into a genre or set of conditions totally discordant with what the viewer considered their actual reality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Sullivan received a boisterous standing ovation during the game’s first TV timeout.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Perich, who received a game ball in the locker room postgame, is usually boisterous on the field, screaming and slapping himself on the helmet.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While drifting lower from late September record highs, the stock was still up nearly 35% year to date — outperforming the S & P 500′s 13% advance.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
-
According to a preliminary investigation, a passenger vehicle was traveling northbound in the third lane when, for an unknown reason, the driver drifted across the lanes.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But Missoula, Livingston and Bozeman have lively literary scenes.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Expect lively notes of lemon zest, grapefruit, and green apple, anchored by a soft minerality that adds depth without overpowering.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The State Department has four travel advisory levels to help travelers assess safety risks before visiting other countries.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The European Union, for example, just started rolling out a new Entry and Exit System (EES) in which travelers use biometric data to gain entry to 29 European countries.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share