knit
Americanverb (used with object)
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Knitting. to make (a garment, fabric, etc.) by interlocking loops of one or more yarns either by hand with knitting needles or by machine.
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to join closely and firmly, as members or parts (often followed bytogether ).
The tragedy knitted the family closer together.
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to contract into folds or wrinkles.
to knit the brow.
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to form or create from diverse sources or elements.
She knitted her play from old folk tales and family anecdotes.
verb (used without object)
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to become closely and firmly joined together; grow together, as broken bones do.
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to contract into folds or wrinkles, as the brow.
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to become closely and intimately united.
noun
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fabric produced by knitting.
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a knitted garment.
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a style or type of knitting.
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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.
verb
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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 )
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to join or be joined together closely
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to draw (the brows) together or (of the brows) to come together, as in frowning or concentrating
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(of a broken bone) to join together; heal
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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knitsimple
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knitssimple
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have knitperfect
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have knittedperfect
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has knitperfect
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has knittedperfect
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am knittingprogressive
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are knittingprogressive
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is knittingprogressive
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have been knittingperfect progressive
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has been knittingperfect progressive
Past
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knitsimple
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knittedsimple
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had knitperfect
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had knittedperfect
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was knittingprogressive
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were knittingprogressive
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had been knittingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of knit
before 1000; Middle English knitte, Old English cnyttan to tie; cognate with German knütten; see 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.
Vocabulary lists containing knit
A Recipe for Success: Thanksgiving Cooking Words
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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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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.
Sbba Siddique runs the Knit Your Socks Off group in the town and said many groups were "just surviving".
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
In 2020, Rivers started Knit the Rainbow, a New York nonprofit organization that collects and distributes hand-knitted garments to homeless LGBTQ+ youth.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 24, 2023
Next came Close Knit, trained by Victoria Oliver, the trainer who also can’t remember anything about Rich Strike that day.
From Washington Post • Jun. 9, 2022
Because of demand, they’ve since launched a face covering alternative dubbed the Slub Knit Bandana.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 6, 2020
But he did draw a picture of a new superhero—his own original character called Knit Man, which Needles and I both thought was corny, but we told Noodles it was cool.
From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds
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.
