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
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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:
A World Cup and Champions League winner, one of the few trophies Olivier Giroud hasn't got his hands on is the Premier League title despite a knack for scoring important goals off the bench.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
“It’s hard because of the body of work, he just has that knack to get a hit, to get a big hit.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
There is a strong argument that Chelsea find it easier to cope without the creativity of Cole Palmer than without Caicedo's ability in possession and his knack for breaking up play in midfield.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
It turns out that Evenepoel has a knack for slicing through the drama too.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
“The children have a knack for synonyms,” Penelope explained modestly, although she took great pride in her students’ accomplishments, as all good teachers do.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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
“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
I’m just a fan of knick knacks and it’s a cool little music man robot.
From The Verge ● May 18, 2018
The furniture and knick- knacks that came with the house were on display.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
