Phrasal verb
knock out
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
knock out
Past
knocked out
Past participle
knocked out
Definition
phrasal verb. to hit someone so hard that they fall down and become unconscious for a short time. You also use this when a team loses a game and has to leave a competition.
phrasal verb. to render a person unconscious, typically through a physical blow; by extension, to eliminate a competitor from a tournament. The verb is transitive and frequently appears in the passive voice.
Examples
“A strong punch often knocks out an opponent in boxing.”
“The star player was accidentally knocked out during the match after a heavy collision with the defender, requiring immediate medical attention on the field.”
“Despite their early dominance, the defending champions were knocked out of the tournament following a series of tactical errors and a lack of clinical finishing in the final minutes.”
Examples
simple
“A strong punch often knocks out an opponent in boxing.”
contextual
“The star player was accidentally knocked out during the match after a heavy collision with the defender, requiring immediate medical attention on the field.”
complex
“Despite their early dominance, the defending champions were knocked out of the tournament following a series of tactical errors and a lack of clinical finishing in the final minutes.”
Usage
This verb is separable, meaning the object can sit between 'knock' and 'out'.
Teaching tip
Distinguish between the physical act of causing unconsciousness and the metaphorical sense of elimination in sports to help students navigate different contexts.
Pitfall
The punch knocked out him.
The punch knocked him out.
When the object is a pronoun, it must be placed between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
knock + out + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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