1
as in to bump
to come into usually forceful contact with something
my knee knocked against the table leg when I tried to get up quickly
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2
as in to hit
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
threatened to knock him upside the head if he didn't do as he was told
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3
as in to blame
to express one's unfavorable opinion of the worth or quality of
hey, don't knock it until you've tried it
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1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument
gave the door a good knock
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2
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
getting his college degree was a six year adventure not without its share of knocks along the way
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3
as in setback
a change in status for the worse usually temporarily
the geneticist's reputation took a knock when several of his peers were unable to confirm his research findings
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock
Escher Walcott, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Then rookie Ricky Pearsall was flagged twice for illegally lining up to first knock the 49ers out of the red zone and then to wipe out a big third-and-long conversion that took the 49ers to the Miami 2-yard line.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2024
Sam Lee, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
The Williamses were likely ready to retire that summer evening when there was a knock at the door.
—Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knock 
Verb
Usyk won by a split decision after knocking Tyson down in the ninth round and winning the next two rounds.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Then rookie Ricky Pearsall was flagged twice for illegally lining up to first knock the 49ers out of the red zone and then to wipe out a big third-and-long conversion that took the 49ers to the Miami 2-yard line.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
But matters were made worse given several defenders played that night and picked up knocks and injuries, with Ake, Akanji and Dias basically getting run into the ground from that point onwards, ending with them missing the matches before the November international break.
—Sam Lee, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
The Williamses were likely ready to retire that summer evening when there was a knock at the door.
—Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock
Verb
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Stock market - The meme stock games that began in 2021 are stretched, the artificial intelligence bubble is bumping into realities, and the hundreds of walking dead companies are stumbling towards oblivion.John S. Tobey, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
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When Brie and Brady bump into each other at Paige’s Bakeaway, Kaia picks up on the tension between this pair of exes immediately.Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
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However, some parts of China’s economy have shown signs of a recovery, with manufacturing activity expanding for two months in a row and hitting a five-month high in November.Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Dec. 2024
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But the Expos won only 52 games that season, and Sutherland hit a mere .239 with three home runs and a .289 on-base percentage in 141 games.Newsweek, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Kennedy has a long history of blaming vaccines for autism.Catherine Tan, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024
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Peterson has blamed his former financial adviser for the issues.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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However, Washington delivered a blow to dislodge the football and the Ravens recovered.Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
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The ruling, issued earlier this week, marks a blow to the state's election procedures under Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.Shamim Chowdhury, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The latest misfortunes came in a game that might have eliminated the Tide from the Playoff.Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 23 Nov. 2024
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Alternatively, a crisis can suddenly arise from a firm’s financial misfortunes, market or supply chain disruptions, regulatory issues and other unexpected developments.Leen Kawas, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Yet both of those extended bull cycles featured two 19% S & P 500 setbacks each (in 1990, 1998, 2011 and 2018), barely stopping short of a loss that would’ve punctuated them.Michael Santoli, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2024
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Despite an initial setback in November, where the court declined their request, the teams eventually triumphed on appeal.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The footage shows a small door on the ceiling of a room opening and closing repeatedly, making a banging noise.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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Angela takes her clothes off in the middle of a country club’s restaurant to show Tommy her banging body and remind him what he’s been missing.Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The game was so in control that Jackson headed into the locker room early in the fourth quarter, slapping fives with Ravens fans on his way in.Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024
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His comments also mark the latest — and likely not the last — threat to slap tariffs on some of the U.S.’s biggest trade partners.William Gavin, Quartz, 20 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Knock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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