knock
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to hit a surface with your knuckles or a hard object to make a sound, usually to get attention.
v.to strike a surface, typically a door, with the knuckles or a knocker to signal one's presence or request entry.
Simple“I had to knock on the door three times before anyone heard me.”
In context“The courier had to knock repeatedly on the heavy oak door before the receptionist finally emerged from the back office.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'on'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to hit something by accident, often causing it to move or fall.
v.to strike or collide with something, often resulting in displacement or damage.
Simple“Be careful not to knock that vase off the table with your bag.”
In context“The cyclist was nearly knocked off his bike when a car door opened suddenly in his path.”
UsageFrequently used in phrasal verbs like 'knock over' or 'knock down'.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to say negative things about something or someone.
v.to criticize or disparage something, often unfairly or habitually.
Simple“Don't knock it until you've tried it; the food is actually quite good.”
In context“Critics were quick to knock the director's latest film, though audiences seemed to appreciate its unconventional pacing.”
- 04 A2 Elementary
n.the sound made when someone hits a door or surface.
n.the sound produced by a sharp blow or rap against a hard surface.
Simple“There was a loud knock at the door just as we sat down for dinner.”
In context“A sharp, rhythmic knock echoed through the hallway, startling the residents who were not expecting visitors so late.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a difficult experience or a failure that hurts your progress.
n.a figurative blow, setback, or unfortunate experience that affects one's confidence or progress.
Simple“Losing his job was a big knock to his confidence.”
In context“The company took a serious knock when its main competitor released a cheaper, more efficient version of the same product.”
Synonyms - 06 C2 Proficiency
n.a metallic sound in a car engine that shows something is wrong.
n.a characteristic metallic sound in an internal combustion engine caused by improper combustion.
Simple“The mechanic said the knock in the engine was caused by low-quality fuel.”
In context“Persistent engine knock can lead to significant mechanical failure if the timing of the spark ignition is not adjusted immediately.”
Synonymspinging
Usage knock down power · knocked on the door
From Middle English knokken, from Old English cnocian, ġecnocian, ġecnucian, cnucian (“to knock, pound on, beat”), from Proto-West Germanic knokōn, from Proto-Germanic knukōną (“to knock”), a suffixed form of knu-, knew- (“to pound on, beat”), from Proto-Indo-European gnew-, gen- (“to squeeze, pinch, kink, ball up, concentrate”). The English word is cognate with Middle High German knochen (“to hit”), Old English cnuian, cnuwian (“to pound, knock”), Old Norse knoka (compare Danish knuge (“to squeeze”), Swedish knocka (“to hug”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.