American English pronunciation

How to pronounce knocks

IPA transcription: ['nɑks]

Hear “knocks” pronounced

['nɑks]

Quality: 0.99

['nɑks]

Quality: 0.99

['nɑks]

Quality: 0.99

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

  • George Harrison introduces the song, saying "For Paul McCartney of Liverpool, opportunity knocks!".
  • She knocks on Ben's door, unaware that he's at the block party.
  • Mickey makes it to the fourth round, when he suddenly knocks out his opponent.
  • Once a player knocks, he may no longer draw.
  • He rampages from the building in pain and knocks an attacking Hawkman unconscious.
  • There are three loud knocks at the door.