KO

or K.O., k.o., kay·o

[ noun key-oh, key-oh; verb key-oh ]

noun

, plural KO's.

1. a knockout in boxing.

verb (used with object)

, KO'd, KO'ing.

1. to knock unconscious, especially in a boxing match; knock out.

KO

/ ˈkeɪˈəʊ /

verb

1. See knockout
   a slang term for knock out See knockout

noun

1. See knockout
   a slang term for knockout

Word History and Origins

Origin of KO¹

First recorded in 1920–25; initial letters of knock out

Example Sentences

“There should be a statue of John Carlos in every city,” KO opined.

From The Daily Beast

Ko Young-hui died of breast cancer in exile in Paris in 2004.

From The Daily Beast

Ko is portrayed speaking in the film over still images of her nurturing Kim Jong-un.

From The Daily Beast

“I think it is a significant turn in U.S. policy toward Myanmar [Burma],” Thein Sein adviser Ko Ko Hlaing crowed to Reuters.

From The Daily Beast

Kano's transient flowers were grown, for the most part in pots, and these his daughter Um-ko loved to tend.

From Project Gutenberg

Um-ko and her father were well known at the temple, and worshipped often before its golden altars.

From Project Gutenberg

Um-ko sat motionless against the silver fusuma, an ivory image, crowned and robed in shimmering gray.

From Project Gutenberg

All at once it seemed to Um-ko an unbearable thing for any spark of life to be so prisoned.

From Project Gutenberg

She went into her tiny chamber, and from her treasures brought out a metal mirror given her by the young wife, Uta-ko.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beating
• blow
• breakdown
• collapse
• debacle
• destruction
• drubbing
• embarrassment
• failure
• killing
• loss
• massacre
• rout
• setback
• thrashing
• triumph