as in sipping
to swallow in liquid form
desperately thirsty, she knocked back an entire glass of water without pausing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knocking back
John Slattery in Vladimir, wandering around on the sidelines, knocking back cocktails and running out to the backyard every hour or so to make sure his lettuce has been adequately watered.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026
As to whether today’s pinot noir wine tastes the same as whatever medieval knights were knocking back in the French royal court at Paris, grape DNA can’t reveal much about flavor.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026
As to whether today’s pinot noir wine tastes the same as whatever medieval knights were knocking back in the French royal court at Paris, grape DNA can’t reveal much about flavor.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking back
Verb
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After sipping on drink after drink, our testers selected seven sips that bubbled up above the rest.—
Sonal Dutt,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
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The Princess of Wales has been seen sipping bubbly on the sidelines of Prince William’s polo matches.—
Mathilde Engelmann,
Vanity Fair,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Danny is, once again, drinking and trying to hide it.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 June 2026
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In the 1990s, the soft drink company ran a promotion and a Super Bowl commercial that featured the Harrier as a prize for accumulating 7 million points by drinking Pepsi products.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Verb
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This viral anti-slip slow feeder lick bowl helps prevent gulping and bloating, while keeping your dogs entertained for longer with a healthy, fun challenge.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
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Yes, gulping the liquid the night before was an ordeal — try drinking three liters of anything in three hours, going to sleep, then waking up six hours later for one final liter.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knocking back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20back. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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