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
-
Their cattle then roam the yerba mate plantation, clear the weeds–which both feeds the cattle and eliminates the need for pesticides–and its manure helps enrich the soil.—
Andrew Watman,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
Residents complain of thieves roaming the streets after dusk.—
Sophie Neiman,
Christian Science Monitor,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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Williams had apparently drifted across an invisible whites-only line that the man who killed him was enforcing.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2025
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Smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted as far as the Midwest and Northeast in 2023, pushing air quality into unhealthy ranges.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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For a more cushioned New Balance option, consider the Fresh Foam 1080s, which Glamour contributor and marathoner Jenny McCoy swears by for both long-distance running and casual neighborhood strolling.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
1 May 2025
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His goal was to capture that throwback feeling of aimless summer days strolling down the boardwalk with the frozen snack in hand in his Lemon Italian Ice flavor.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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 16 May. 2025.
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