plural knives
ˈnīvz 
often attributive
1
a
: a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade fastened to a handle
b
: a weapon or tool resembling a knife
2
: a sharp cutting blade or tool in a machine
3
: surgery sense 4
—usually used in the phrase under the knife
knifed; knifing
1
: to use a knife on
specifically
: to stab, slash, or wound with a knife
2
: to cut, mark, or spread with a knife
3
: to try to defeat by underhanded means
4
: to move like a knife in
birds knifing the autumn sky
: to cut a way with or as if with a knife blade
the cruiser knifed through the heavy seas
Examples of knife in a Sentence
Noun
Each dinner guest gets two forks, a knife, and a spoon.
He pulled a knife on me and threatened to stab me with it.
Verb
He died after being knifed in the chest.
ships knifing through the waves
Recent Examples on the Web
Elise Taylor, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Heraclio Mejia, threatened violence against his wife, injured a family member who attempted to de-escalate the situation with a knife, then assaulted a police officer, Joseph said.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Dave Lawler, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024
Maybe Eric has been so lackluster and gross all season because there wasn’t anyone exciting enough to knife in the back.
—Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knife 
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Noun
The task of silverware placement and napkin arranging begins as a relatively simple one, taught through phonetic devices like B-M-W (bread, meal, water) or various colorful stories that involve the knife protecting the spoon.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Heraclio Mejia, threatened violence against his wife, injured a family member who attempted to de-escalate the situation with a knife, then assaulted a police officer, Joseph said.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
The bottom line: Senior officials in the first Trump administration spent much of their time trying to knife one another.
—Dave Lawler, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024
Maybe Eric has been so lackluster and gross all season because there wasn’t anyone exciting enough to knife in the back.
—Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knife
Dictionary Entries Near knife
Cite this Entry
“Knife.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knife. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
knife
noun
plural knives
ˈnīvz
1
: any of various instruments used in surgery primarily to sever tissues: as
a
: a cutting instrument consisting of a sharp blade attached to a handle
b
: an instrument that cuts by means of an electric current
2
: surgery sense 3
—usually used in the phrase under the knife
went under the knife yesterday
was afraid of the knife
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