knocked; knocking; knocks
1
: to strike something with a sharp blow
2
: to collide with something
4
a
: to make a pounding noise
b
: to have engine knock
5
: to find fault
1
a(1)
: to strike sharply
(2)
: to drive, force, or make by or as if by so striking
was knocked out of the campaign
b
: to set forcibly in motion with a blow
2
: to cause to collide
3
: to find fault with
always knocking those in authority
1
2
a
: a pounding noise
b
: a sharp repetitive metallic noise caused by abnormal ignition in an automobile engine
3
: a harsh and often petty criticism
the knock on him was that he couldn't handle the pressure
Examples of knock in a Sentence
Verb
The ball knocked him on the chin.
She knocked the glass from his hand.
He knocked the baseball over the fence.
The ball hit him in the mouth and knocked out one of his teeth.
The wind knocked him backwards.
The dog knocked against the lamp.
My knee accidentally knocked against the table.
Skaters were knocking into each other all over the ice.
I accidentally knocked my knee against the table.
Noun
He gave him a knock on the head.
There was a loud knock at the door.
She took some knocks early in her career.
He likes praise but can't stand the knocks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
The match did not last long, as Steveson secured the victory by knocking his opponent out in just seconds with effective uppercuts.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Everyone would sit at the dinner table expectantly, their pork chops in front of them, waiting for a knock at the door that would, inevitably, never come.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
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show current usage.
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Verb
Of course, the key here is that Dodgers have to knock him in.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
The match did not last long, as Steveson secured the victory by knocking his opponent out in just seconds with effective uppercuts.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
Cheaper options or knock-offs tend to come with flimsy sockets, buzzing ballasts, or unreliable switches, which can make rooms look cheap or dated far sooner than expected and even create fire hazards.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Everyone would sit at the dinner table expectantly, their pork chops in front of them, waiting for a knock at the door that would, inevitably, never come.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for knock
Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knock. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knock
1 of 2 verb1
a
: to strike with a sharp blow
b
: to set in motion with a sharp blow
2
: to bump against something
3
: wander sense 1
knocked about the country last summer
4
: to have engine knock
5
: to find fault with
don't knock it—there are worse jobs
knock
2 of 2 noun1
: a sharp blow
2
: a severe misfortune or hardship
3
a
: a pounding noise
heard a knock on the door
b
: a sharp rattling noise caused by abnormal ignition in an automobile engine
Medical Definition
knock
noun1
: a sharp blow
a knock to the head
2
: a sharp pounding noise
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