as in sipping
to swallow in liquid form
desperately thirsty, she knocked back an entire glass of water without pausing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 knocking back
In 2019, Vanity Fair royal correspondent Katie Nicholl reported that Prince Harry, who was once known for knocking back vodka Red Bull chasers at nightclubs, had adopted a healthier lifestyle thanks to his wife.
—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking back
Verb
-
Fred Astaire, in his final film role, stars as the head of the Chowder Society, a New England men's club in which members regale each other with spooky stories while sipping brandy.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Fans kept their spirits high throughout the evening, sipping on a variety of White Claw flavors and products, and making the most of the interactive experiences on-site.—
Quincy Green,
Billboard,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For Slingerland, drinking alcohol and getting drunk are important to human well-being and complex societies.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
15 Oct. 2025
-
One of the passengers had shown Matney a cell phone video in which everyone on the boat was drinking and Paul was steering the boat.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
One night Icarius got all his friends together for a wine-tasting party that quickly got out of hand and turned into a wine-gulping party.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The pressure is always on the taker, the player standing, gulping, trying desperately not to unload their lunch onto the turf, preparing to do something theoretically simple — kick the ball into the net from 12 yards with only one opponent able to stop them.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knocking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20back. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share