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
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
-
Bison roam freely, wild horses graze on ridges, and entire prairie dog towns pop up along the roadside.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The attraction once let families see free-roaming lions from the safety of their Chevy Impalas and Ford Fairlanes.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 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
-
Emerging cities worth watching Tbilisi, Georgia has become a big hit for nomads looking for affordability and a fascinating culture.—
Taylor Haught,
Sacbee.com,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Kevin Costner stars as the Mariner, a nomad with a boat and a talent for defending himself against the gangs that travel the seas, raiding local communities.—
Lia Beck,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Still, much of the time Froud was content, wandering the set after just learning to walk, unfazed by the elaborate production around him.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
That morning, in a new suburb of Glendale, three-year-old Kelly Keen wandered, unattended, out of her house and into the driveway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Cucinelli, speaking in boisterous Italian through a translator, recalls with a booming laugh.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
-
There was also a boisterous celebration in Cleveland's locker room after the game.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Adventure guides the ninth sign's spirit; these wanderers are not afraid to take risks.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Stargazers hoping to catch a glimpse of C/2025 R2 (SWAN) should read our roundups of the best binoculars and telescopes for viewing the night sky, while those looking to image the wanderer should read our guide to imaging a solar system comet with a DSLR camera.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
News consumers drift toward outlets that favor their politics, giving them a partial view of possible wrongdoing.—
Brandon Rottinghaus,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
When next year came, Rice was in the NBA, and gradually the players drifted separate ways.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Chabada For a livelier scene, head to the main drag along Platja de l’Arenal to find Chabada.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The style throughout, irrespective of category, is lively without being hectic, a pleasing postmodern blend of contemporary, midcentury, and roughly Victorian elements.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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