knock around
idiom
informal
1
: to spend time in (a place) without having a goal or purpose : to wander around (a place)
He spent the summer knocking around (in) Europe.
2
British
: to spend time with (another person)
She was knocking around with her brother.
3
: to be considered or discussed in an informal way over a period of time
These ideas have been knocking around for years.
4
: to consider or talk about (ideas, plans, etc.) in an informal way
We knocked the plan around for a while before we came to an agreement.
They knocked around several possible names for the new car.
5
: to beat or hit (someone) badly or repeatedly
The boy was getting knocked around by bullies.
—often used figurativelyI really got knocked around at the last staff meeting.
6
chiefly British
: to be lying somewhere within a general area or place
That jacket is knocking around here somewhere.
Examples of knock around in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Periodically, Irwin headed back to Europe to knock around a bit.
—
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023
As a result, in this city teeming with students who can’t afford their own bedrooms, countless old folks like my mother and father knock around big half-empty houses — which is maybe a more generous way to think about Hopkins Street and the yearning to save it from bike lanes.
—Daniel Duane, New York Times, 30 May 2023
The best deals available knock around 10 percent off the price of the car but don't expect that sort of sale on everything on the lot.
—Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 28 May 2023
As a result, in this city teeming with students who can’t afford their own bedrooms, countless old folks like my mother and father knock around big half-empty houses — which is maybe a more generous way to think about Hopkins Street and the yearning to save it from bike lanes.
—Daniel Duane, New York Times, 30 May 2023
The best deals available knock around 10 percent off the price of the car but don't expect that sort of sale on everything on the lot.
—Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 28 May 2023
Some of my favorites were Pat and Bonnie, who used to knock around the farmhouse.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Jan. 2023
My hope is to open up these issues and knock around a bit in the gears.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2022
The family-friendly festival features more than a dozen Utah breweries, as well as food, live music, a kids’ area, and a chance to hike and knock around the entire resort grounds.
—Stefene Russell, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022
Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2023
As a result, in this city teeming with students who can’t afford their own bedrooms, countless old folks like my mother and father knock around big half-empty houses — which is maybe a more generous way to think about Hopkins Street and the yearning to save it from bike lanes.
—Daniel Duane, New York Times, 30 May 2023
The best deals available knock around 10 percent off the price of the car but don't expect that sort of sale on everything on the lot.
—Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 28 May 2023
As a result, in this city teeming with students who can’t afford their own bedrooms, countless old folks like my mother and father knock around big half-empty houses — which is maybe a more generous way to think about Hopkins Street and the yearning to save it from bike lanes.
—Daniel Duane, New York Times, 30 May 2023
The best deals available knock around 10 percent off the price of the car but don't expect that sort of sale on everything on the lot.
—Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 28 May 2023
Some of my favorites were Pat and Bonnie, who used to knock around the farmhouse.
—Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Jan. 2023
My hope is to open up these issues and knock around a bit in the gears.
—Jay Caspian Kang, The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2022
The family-friendly festival features more than a dozen Utah breweries, as well as food, live music, a kids’ area, and a chance to hike and knock around the entire resort grounds.
—Stefene Russell, The Salt Lake Tribune, 15 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knock around.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near knock around
Cite this Entry
“Knock around.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knock%20around. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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