as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
we knocked about from town to town, looking for work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in rollicking
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a knockabout game of football in the mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in gypsy
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
the book is one writer's journey of self-discovery as a restless knockabout
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock (about)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Adjective
Though thematically vague, thinly plotted and without a reliably sympathetic soul to cling to, the movie has a mutinous energy and an absurd, knockabout charm; even its violence is more quirky than brutal.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock (about)
Verb
-
Those two have scheduled meet and greets, but other characters like The Invisible Man and Ygor roam throughout Dark Universe.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Also known as the Siberian tiger, the Amur tiger is the largest living cat in the world and primarily roams the Russian Far East, with a few straying into northeastern China.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
4 Feb. 2023
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His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.—
Sonal Dutt,
Peoplemag,
23 Jan. 2023
Verb
-
Across the street, walking to their apartments, Marta Becerra, 50, and Margarita Mota, 60, said people from the parking structure had wandered into their apartment complex, stealing bicycles and other items from people’s porches.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
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Any Colorado wolves that wander into Utah, New Mexico or Arizona will be retrieved and brought back to the Centennial State, under agreements state wildlife officials inked with those neighboring states.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Even amid the more boisterous parts of the track, the speakers pick out the subtleties.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2025
-
Elizabeth is friendly and warm, but not as boisterous as Olivia.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
26 May 2025
Verb
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From casting a line and drifting beneath cottonwoods to paddling through splashing whitewater, adventures on the San Miguel are a refreshing way to experience its rhythms.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
23 May 2025
-
The film, so enjoyably wacky at first, deflates and drifts to a stop like one of its showboat cars running on empty.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Insects, much like their human counterparts, are more lively in the spring and summer when the weather is warmer.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
20 May 2025
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Book Club with the Rancho Santa Fe Librarians Wednesday, May 28, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Join us for a lively discussion at the Senior Center of American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
So, waders are people who just stroll through and say, ‘Oh, this is nice.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
-
In what has become a familiar sight on the Croisette, Belgian directors Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne strolled up the red carpet to present their new film to a welcoming crowd.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Actor Wendell Pierce observed the raucous dancing from the safety of the beach.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
-
Heading into the first intermission, the Leafs had momentum and a raucous crowd behind them.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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