# knack

/ˈnæk/ (US) · /nˈæk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/knack
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a natural skill

noun · CEFR B2

a natural ability to do something well, especially something that seems difficult.

For teachers: an acquired or intuitive skill at performing a specific task with proficiency and ease.

- My brother has a real knack for making people feel comfortable in new places.
- She has a remarkable knack for identifying market trends long before they become obvious to her competitors.

### 2. a clever trick

noun · CEFR B2

a clever or specific way of doing something that makes it easier.

For teachers: a clever technique or specific method required to operate or complete something successfully.

- There is a certain knack to opening this old jar without breaking the lid.
- Once you learn the knack of balancing the chemicals, the entire cleaning process becomes significantly more efficient.

## Examples

- She has a real knack for fixing old clocks.
- He has a knack for remembering names, which makes him very popular at networking events.
- While some struggle with the technical aspects of coding, she seems to have a natural knack for identifying logic errors before the program even runs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.