knock

[ nok ]

/ nɒk /

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verb (used without object)

to strike a sounding blow with the fist, knuckles, or anything hard, especially on a door, window, or the like, as in seeking admittance, calling attention, or giving a signal: to knock on the door before entering.

to strike in collision; bump: He knocked into a table.

to make a pounding noise: The engine of our car is knocking badly.

Informal. to engage in trivial or carping criticism; find fault.

Cards. to end a game, as in gin rummy, by laying down a hand in which those cards not included in sets total less than a specific amount.

verb (used with object)

to give a sounding or forcible blow to; hit; strike; beat.

to drive, force, or render by a blow or blows: to knock a man senseless.

to make by striking a blow or blows: to knock a hole in the wall.

to strike (a thing) against something else.

Informal. to criticize, especially in a carping manner: He's always knocking everything.

British Slang. to astound; impress greatly.

noun

an act or instance of knocking.

the sound of knocking, especially a rap, as at a door.

a blow or thump.

Informal. an adverse criticism.

the noise resulting from faulty combustion or from incorrect functioning of some part of an internal-combustion engine.

Cricket. an innings.

British Slang.

one of a combination of dealers who bid together, rather than against each other, at an auction, and later resell the purchases among themselves.
an auction at which this is done.
the sale of merchandise recently obtained by a dealer at an auction.

Verb Phrases

knock around / about Informal.

to wander aimlessly or idly; loaf.
to mistreat (someone), especially physically.
to jar; shake up.

knock back, Slang. to drink (a beverage), especially quickly and heartily: He knocked back two shots of vodka.

knock down,

to sell at auction by a blow of the hammer or to a bidder.
to take apart or disassemble, as for facility in handling, storing, shipping, etc.
Slang. to receive, as a salary or a scholastic grade; earn: He knocks down 30 grand a year.
Informal. to lower the price of; reduce: to knock down end-of-season leftovers.
Slang. to embezzle or steal (money).
to cause (a sailing vessel) to heel, as by a gust of wind, to such a degree that it cannot right itself.

knock off,

Informal. to cease activity, especially work: to knock off at five every day.
to stop doing something; quit: Knock it off or you'll get into a mess.
Slang. to dispose of; finish.
Slang. to murder; kill.
Slang. to die.
Slang. to get rid of; reduce.
Slang. to disable or defeat.
Slang. to commit a robbery at; steal from: The gang knocked off a gas station.
Nautical Slang. to blow the head (of a sailing vessel) off the wind.
to imitate, copy, or plagiarize: to knock off designer dresses in cheap materials.

knock out,

to defeat (an opponent) in a boxing match by striking such a blow that the opponent is unable to rise within the specified time.
to render (a person) unconscious: Those sleeping pills knocked me out for ten hours.
to make tired or exhausted: Christmas shopping always knocks me out.
Informal. to produce quickly, hurriedly, or with ease: He knocks out two poems a day.
to damage or destroy: The explosion knocked out the power for several hours.
knock (def. 28).

knock over,

to strike (someone or something) from an erect to a prone position: to knock over a lamp.
to distress; overcome: When the announcement came we were completely knocked over.
Slang. to rob, burglarize, or hijack: He knocked over five banks.

knock together, to make or construct in a hurry or with little attention to detail: He knocked together a couple of tables.

knock up,

Slang. to make pregnant.
to exhaust; weary; tire.
to damage; mar: The children knocked up the new table.
to injure; wound: He was afraid to come home from school all knocked up again.
British. to wake up; rouse; call: He knocked us up before dawn.

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Idioms for knock

have it knocked, Slang. to be assured of success: With a government job, he thought he had it knocked.

knock out of the box, Baseball. to cause a pitcher to be removed from the box because the pitcher has permitted too many hits to be made.Also knock out.

knock the / one's socks off, Informal. to have an overwhelming effect on: The song knocked the socks off the audience.

Origin of knock

First recorded before 1000; 1890–95 for def. 4; Middle English knokken, knoken (verb), Old English cnocian, cnucian; cognate with Old Norse knoka “to thump, knock”

synonym study for knock

1. See strike.

OTHER WORDS FROM knock

knockless, adjectivere·knock, verbun·knocked, adjectiveun·knock·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for knock

Really, is it any wonder that fluoride should freak people out?
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
For a while yoga and pilates classes were sought out at luxury gyms like Equinox.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
On Thursday, Garcetti ruled himself out of the race to succeed Boxer.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Police officials told the AP that they came out with guns blazing.
France Kills Charlie Hebdo Murderers|Nico Hines|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST

“I think for trans men who are dating every time they hook up they have another coming out,” Sandler said.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And he was gone, and out of sight on the swift galloping Benito, before Father Gaspara bethought himself.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Most of the men leaped up, caught hold of spears or knives, and rushed out.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Liszt looked at it, and to her fright and dismay cried out in a fit of impatience, "No, I won't hear it!"
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Squinty could look out, but the slats were as close together as those in a chicken coop, and the little pig could not get out.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for knock

knock

/ (nɒk) /

verb

(tr) to give a blow or push to; strike

(intr) to rap sharply with the knuckles, a hard object, etc, esp to capture attentionto knock at the door

(tr) to make or force by strikingto knock a hole in the wall

(intr usually foll by against) to collide (with)

(tr) to bring into a certain condition by hitting or pushingto knock someone unconscious

(tr) informal to criticize adversely; belittleto knock someone's work

Also: pink (intr) (of an internal-combustion engine) to emit a characteristic metallic noise as a result of faulty combustion

(intr) (of a bearing, esp one in an engine) to emit a regular characteristic sound as a result of wear

British slang to have sexual intercourse with (a person)

knock a person into the middle of next week informal to hit a person with a very heavy blow

knock one's head against to have a violent or unpleasant encounter with (adverse facts or circumstances)

knock on the head

to daze or kill (a person) by striking on the head
effectively to prevent the further development of (a plan)

noun

a blow, push, or raphe gave the table a knock
the sound so caused

the sound of knocking in an engine or bearing

informal a misfortune, rebuff, or setback

informal unfavourable criticism

informal (in cricket) an innings or a spell of batting

Word Origin for knock

Old English cnocian, of imitative origin; related to Old Norse knoka to hit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with knock

knock

In addition to the idioms beginning with knock

knock about
knock back
knock cold
knock dead
knock down
knock down with a feather
knock for a loop
knock into a cocked hat
knock it off
knock off
knock oneself out
knock on wood
knock out
knock over
knock over with a feather
knock someone's block off
knock someone's socks off
knock the bottom out of
knock the living daylights out of
knock the socks off
knock together
knock up

also see:

beat (knock) into someone's head
beat (knock) the living daylights out of
(knock) down to size
(knock) off someone's feet
school of hard knocks

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knock

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!

Idioms for knock

Origin of knock

synonym study for knock

OTHER WORDS FROM knock

Example sentences from the Web for knock

British Dictionary definitions for knock

verb

noun

Word Origin for knock

Idioms and Phrases with knock

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

knock

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!

Idioms for knock

Origin of knock

synonym study for knock

OTHER WORDS FROM knock

Words related to knock

Example sentences from the Web for knock

British Dictionary definitions for knock

verb

noun

Word Origin for knock

Idioms and Phrases with knock