WordGarden.ioknock
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /nˈɒk/
US
- /ˈnɑk/
Meanings
Verb
to strike or rap on a surface, often to get attention
to criticize or speak dismissively about someone or something
Noun
a sharp tapping sound or a single blow
a criticism or point against someone or something
a base hit in baseball
More meaningsFewer meanings
a sharp metallic engine noise caused by abnormal combustion
Beyond the definition
To knock is to hit a surface in a quick way, often to make a sound. You might knock on a door before you go in, or a strong wind might knock over a pile of books. It can also mean beating someone down in a fight, as when a boxer gets "knocked out." In everyday speech, people also say "knock it off" to tell someone to stop doing something annoying.
Think of a detective in a movie: they always knock on doors while investigating. Or imagine building a tower of blocks; one careless move can knock the whole thing down. The phrase "knock on wood" is a common superstition people use after talking about their good luck.
The idea behind knock is simple, but it travels far. At its most basic, it means hitting a surface so it makes a sound, especially a door. That is the everyday, polite use: you knock before entering. But the word also appears in other scenes. Branches can knock against a window in a storm, and an engine can knock when something is wrong inside.
From there, the meaning widens. A person or thing can knock something over, down, or out. A punch can knock a fighter out. A careless step can knock over a vase. In a more figurative way, a shop can knock ten dollars off a price, or a runner can knock a few seconds off a personal record. The word can also mean to criticize, especially in informal speech, as in "Don't knock it till you've tried it."
It also lives in many familiar phrases. To "knock someone's socks off" is to impress them a lot. To "knock yourself out" is a casual way of saying "go ahead." "Knock it off" means stop. So whether it is a light sound at the door, a blow that brings someone down, a small cut in price, or a negative comment, knock is a flexible word built around contact, effect, and sudden change.
Examples
- 1
Door sound
Someone knocked on the door just as I was leaving.
- 2
Polite request
Please knock before you come in.
- 3
Window sound
I heard a loud knock at the window.
- 4
Falling object
Be careful not to knock the glass off the table.
- Patternknock + object + off
hit or move it so it falls from a surface
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Falling object
She knocked over the lamp while reaching for her phone.
- Patternknock + object + over
make it fall
- 6
Accidental collision
A cyclist knocked into me on the busy path.
- Patternknock into + person/thing
hit them by accident while moving
- 7
Body impact
He knocked his knee against the table.
- 8
Demolition
The old wall was knocked down to make the room bigger.
- Patternknock + object + down
destroy it or make it fall
- 9
Unconsciousness
The punch knocked him out for a few seconds.
- Patternknock + person + out
make someone unconscious
- 10
Competition
France knocked Brazil out of the tournament.
- Patternknock + person/team + out of a competition
defeat them so they must leave
- 11
Criticism
Don’t knock the idea until you’ve tried it.
- 12
Business setback
The company took a knock when its biggest client left.
- Phrasetake a knock
be damaged or hurt by a problem
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- knocknounverb
Forms
- knockedpast tenseverbnoun
- knocking-ing formverbnoun
- knockspluralnounverb