KNOCKING (ABOUT) Synonyms: 28 Similar Words

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

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking (about)

Verb

Mornings can easily be filled wandering the grounds, and afternoons could disappear beside one of the two pools or beneath an olive tree with a good book.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
Trump's quick save for wandering toddler sets up a Biden joke that steals the show.

— , FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of wandering

Verb

There’s little sense of forward motion in these tracks, but even when simply drifting in place, the blend of atmosphere and physicality—sunset glow meets seismic throb—is payoff enough.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
The capital is drifting down-market, into hands-on companies.

— Louis Mosca, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of drifting

Verb

And over the course of the last four days, Storrie and Williams have been spotted not once, not twice, but three times, each time strolling casually on the streets of that fair Canadian city.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 5 Aug. 2026
Other shots show the pair holding hands while strolling through the garden, posing by a statue and sitting together under a weeping willow tree.

— Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of strolling

Verb

If cruising the coastline (on two or four wheels) is on your wish list, cars can access the private 17-Mile Drive via multiple gates.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Solo cruising on a large ship takes a little planning, even for an extrovert like me.

— Belinda Luksic, Southern Living, 31 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

Style

“Knocking (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20%28about%29. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of knocking (about)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes