noun
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a skilful, ingenious, or resourceful way of doing something
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a particular talent or aptitude, esp an intuitive one
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.
He also has a knack for teasing out some of Starr’s best performances in years.
From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026
Rams: Makai Lemon, WR, USC — The Rams have shown a knack for identifying receivers who will become stars.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
The knack of accurate forecasting for Savouri lies in granularization and stripping out the most volatile components.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026
Paris St-Germain have a knack of beating Premier League clubs.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
“Well, you know your mama’s got a knack for causin’ trouble.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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.
