American English pronunciation

How to pronounce knock

IPA transcription: ['nɑk]

Hear “knock” pronounced

['nɑk]

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['nɑk]

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['nɑk]

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Noun

  • a vigorous blow

    “the sudden knock floored him”

    “he took a bash right in his face”

    “he got a bang on the head”

  • the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

    “the knocking grew louder”

  • negative criticism

  • a bad experience

    “the school of hard knocks”

  • the act of hitting vigorously

    “he gave the table a whack”

Verb

  • find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws

    “The paper criticized the new movie”

    “Don't knock the food--it's free”

  • deliver a sharp blow or push :

    “He knocked the glass clear across the room”

  • rap with the knuckles

    “knock on the door”

  • knock against with force or violence

    “My car bumped into the tree”

  • make light, repeated taps on a surface

    “he was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently”

  • sound like a car engine that is firing too early

    “the car pinged when I put in low-octane gasoline”

    “The car pinked when the ignition was too far retarded”

Usage examples

  • Do I knock or something?
  • Before she can leave Steeltown, she is knocked out by an unidentified attacker.
  • The alchemist knocked on the gate of the monastery.
  • He was knocked down many times in the punch of the shores.
  • Do I knock or something?
  • They were then eliminated by Victory Challenge in the first knock-out stage.
  • However, United conceded again and were knocked out of the cup.
  • No knocking or ringing for Mr. Bucket.
  • Kimo was knocked out in the first round from knees to the head.
  • Don't knock on death's door, ring the doorbell and run.