knocking (about)

verb

present participle of knock (about)
as in wandering
to move about from place to place aimlessly we knocked about from town to town, looking for work

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking (about)
  1. wandering
  2. roaming
  3. drifting
  4. strolling
  5. cruising
Verb
  • Outdoor experiences are just as compelling, from kayaking through mangroves at the Environmental Learning Center to wandering the lush landscapes of McKee Botanical Garden.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Two months ago, he was discovered wandering the San Francisco streets, blocks away from his typical habitat and suffering from severe malnutrition.
    — Liz Gray, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of wandering
Verb
  • My latest obsession is Trader Joe’s new Spicy Pink Salt with Crushed Red Chili Pepper, which sells for only $2, and is admittedly easy to miss when roaming down the spice aisle.
    — Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 6 July 2026
  • Looking for a place to cool off By early afternoon Friday in Washington, hundreds of people were roaming the grounds of the National Mall, home to the Great American State Fair.
    — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of roaming
Verb
  • The chair owns much of the relationship architecture that allows both sides to work without drifting into passivity or intrusion.
    — David Ribott, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Early in the first quarter, Stirtz highlighted his off-ball repertoire and spatial awareness in drifting to the left wing for an open 3-pointer — his first of two makes Saturday.
    — Latif Love, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
Definition of drifting
Verb
  • Toward the end of his first day, Chekhov spotted an officer strolling confidently down the street.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • Check out what Northlanders can expect to find while strolling the aisles.
    — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026
Definition of strolling
Verb
  • Senegal were cruising, courtesy of goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Among the benefits of cruising is the fact that, for many Americans, getting to a ship doesn’t necessarily mean taking a flight.
    — Jane Wooldridge, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Definition of cruising
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.

Browse Nearby Words

knocking
knocking (about)
knocking back
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Knocking (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20%28about%29. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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