knit

American  

[nit] / nɪt /

verb (used with object)

knitted, knit, knitting

1. Knitting. to make (a garment, fabric, etc.) by interlocking loops of one or more yarns either by hand with knitting needles or by machine.

2. to join closely and firmly, as members or parts (often followed bytogether ).

   The tragedy knitted the family closer together.

   Synonyms:

   bind, unite, link

3. to contract into folds or wrinkles.

   to knit the brow.

4. to form or create from diverse sources or elements.

   She knitted her play from old folk tales and family anecdotes.

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verb (used without object)

knitted, knit, knitting

1. to become closely and firmly joined together; grow together, as broken bones do.

2. to contract into folds or wrinkles, as the brow.

3. to become closely and intimately united.

noun

Knitting.

1. fabric produced by knitting.

2. a knitted garment.

3. a style or type of knitting.

4. the basic stitch in knitting, formed by pulling a loop of the working yarn forward through an existing stitch and then slipping that stitch off the needle.

knit British  

/ nɪt /

verb

1. to make (a garment, etc) by looping and entwining (yarn, esp wool) by hand by means of long eyeless needles ( knitting needles ) or by machine ( knitting machine )

2. to join or be joined together closely

3. to draw (the brows) together or (of the brows) to come together, as in frowning or concentrating

4. (of a broken bone) to join together; heal

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noun

1. 1. a fabric or garment made by knitting

   2. ( in combination )

      a heavy knit

Other Word Forms

• knittable adjective
• knitter noun
• preknit verb (used with object)preknit, preknitted, preknitting
• reknit verbreknit, reknitted, reknitting

Etymology

Origin of knit

before 1000; Middle English knitte, Old English cnyttan to tie; cognate with German knütten; knot ¹

Explanation

If you decide to knit a sweater, you will need yarn, knitting needles, an instruction manual, and lots of patience! Knitting involves different kinds of stitches or consecutive loops that you create in rows. The verb is derived from the Old English cnyttan, meaning “to tie with a knot, bind or fasten.” While knitting can also be completed with a machine, many people knit hats, scarves, and mittens as a hobby. Knit can also mean “entwine.” Two ideas or concepts can be knit together, and it could be said that a marriage knits two people together. Note that the ‘k’ at the beginning is silent.

Example Sentences

“Malcolm in the Middle,” a popular series about a tightly knit calamitous family of weirdos and the relatively less weird child at its center, is back after 20 years.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

The snag is: You have to knit the fox-emblazoned cardigan Ryan Gosling wears in “Project Hail Mary” yourself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

At Milan Fashion Week on Thursday, the Prada show opened with cozy knit sweaters and multi-coloured scarves, only for garments to be ripped open, exposed and distressed as the catwalk continued.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

She’s dedicated to keeping her community closely knit and protected.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

I know how to knit complex cable patterns.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Related Words

• bind
• crochet
• fasten
• mend
• sew
• unite
• weave