knock

Examples

• All

• How we answer the knock at our doors matters more than ever.

  Academic text (2016)

• A few minutes later, there was a knock at the judge's door.

  Academic text (2009)

• I remember the fear of a knock on the door at night.

  Academic text (2006)

• At this point, there was a knock at the door, and a boy put his head in.

  Academic text (1991)

• In the middle of our conversation, there was a knock at her door.

  Fiction book (1990)

• But within an hour, there was a knock at my door and my life was transformed.

  Academic text (2009)

• Much later in the afternoon, he was startled by a sudden knock on the door.

  Fiction book (1991)

• There was a soft knock on the door, and Warren strode over to open it.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Well, last night there was a knock at the door and behold, there was Raymond on my doorstep.

  The Big White (2005)

• I heard a knock on the door while I was watching a movie.

Synonyms

C

click

vsknock

89 1.0

A short sharp sound you hear when a switch or latch moves

is a louder broader sharp sound from hitting a surface or fault

T

tapping

vsknock

72 1.9

A light repeated sound made by gentle knocks

is a single sharper or louder sound rather than gentle repetition

K

knocking

vsknock

37 2.2

A sharp repeated sound from a door or machine when parts hit each other

is the single sharp sound rather than a repeated or continuous one

W

whack

vsknock

35 6.3

A sharp, forceful hit that makes a loud sound

is usually a sharp sound from hitting without implying heavy force

C

clack

vsknock

16 6.0

A short, sharp sound made when hard things hit each other

is a sharp sound from one object hitting a surface or fault

R

rap

vsknock

5 2.1

A short sharp knock on a surface to get attention

is a stronger sharp sound produced by harder hitting

R

rat-tat

vsknock

5 7.7

A series of quick, sharp knocks often on a door or drum

is a single or occasional sharp sound rather than a rapid series

T

thwack

vsknock

5 8.4

A hard loud hit from a flat object that makes a sharp sound

is the sharp sound from hitting but not necessarily from a heavy flat blow

K

klop

vsknock

1 9.9

A short sharp knocking sound like a quick tap

is the real sound caused by an actual hit or mechanical fault

Antonyms

S

silence

373 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

Idioms

K

knock on wood

• Informal

13 6.8

You say it to avoid bad luck after saying something good

K

to knock for a loop

• Informal

3 8.7

To surprise someone very much and leave them speechless

K

to knock down a peg

• Informal

2 7.6

Make someone feel less proud by criticizing or embarrassing them

K

to knock over with a feather

• Informal

2 8.8

To be so surprised that you almost cannot react

K

to knock the stuffing out of

• Informal

1 8.6

To make someone feel very tired, weak, or sad

K

to knock into the middle of next week

• Informal

1 9.9

To hit or shock someone so they feel dazed

K

to knock the living daylights out of

• Offensive

1 9.9

To hit someone very hard or to shock someone very much

K

to knock it out of the box office

• Literature

8.4

To sell a lot of movie tickets

K

to knock off one's perch

• Informal

7.9

To defeat the person or team at the top and take their place

K

to knock down for the count

• Informal

8.2

To be hit so hard that you fall and cannot get up

Compounds

K

knock knock

• Informal

17 4.3

A short joke that starts with 'Knock knock!' and uses a call and answer

K

knock-on effect

• UK

2 4.7

An indirect result of an event that causes other changes

K

knock-kneed

1 8.4

With knees that bend inward and touch while the ankles stay apart

K

knock-knee

1 8.2

Knees that turn inward and touch when the legs are straight

K

knock rummy

• Jargon

1 8.7

A rummy game where a player ends a round if unmatched cards total less than ten points

K

knock on

• Jargon

1 8.2

The illegal action of hitting the ball forward with the hand or arm while trying to catch it

K

knock-down-and-drag-out

• NSFW

1 8.8

Very violent and intense, often about a fight or argument

H

hunger knock

• UK

9.8

A strong feeling or sound in the stomach that tells you to eat soon

How Loud

to crash

46 2.4

bang

390 1.3

knock

242 1.3

tap

57 1.0

click

89 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology