noun
-
a skilful, ingenious, or resourceful way of doing something
-
a particular talent or aptitude, esp an intuitive one
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of knack
1325–75; Middle English: trick; perhaps same word as knak sharp-sounding blow, rap, cracking noise (imitative)
Explanation
If you have a knack for doing something, you do it well. You may have a knack for baking cakes or a knack for cracking jokes. These things come easy to you. Although the noun knack refers to a special talent, the sense is that it is a more innate talent — as opposed to a certain technique. So if someone instinctively has a talent for fixing plumbing, for example, you can say they have a knack for it. If, however, they unclog a sink by having a wrench in one hand and a how-to book in the other, then they may have the technique, but they probably don't have the knack.
Vocabulary lists containing knack
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The Girl Who Drank the Moon
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Just Mercy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
With a knack for picking winners, Lindzon had been invested in the chip space for five or six years, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Effort, spirit and the knack of producing big moments are commendable but will only take you so far - in England's case, not far enough.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Despite his work existing on a massive blockbuster scale, Steven Spielberg has always had a knack for appealing to the individual.
From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026
The brand—known for its jogger pants as well as attire for tennis, golf and other sports—grew out of California, gaining cachet for its knack for men’s activewear.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
No one else she knew had her knack of keeping still, without even a book on her lap, of moving gently through her thoughts, as one might explore a new garden.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Vargas, 18, and Hernandez, 19, have displayed knacks for reaching base in rookie ball but face long roads to reach the big leagues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2023
While there's nothing wrong with a little decluttering, you don't have to shed your quirky knick knacks if you don't want to.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2022
To date, these objects have included hand towels, litter, and any random “knick knacks that don’t look breakable.”
From The Verge ● Jun. 11, 2020
“Just the little knicks and knacks that Kyle brought to me, that’s when I learned the most,” Oliver said.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 22, 2019
The furniture and knick- knacks that came with the house were on display.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
