knock (about) 1 of 3

verb

Definition of knock (about)next
as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly we knocked about from town to town, looking for work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

knockabout

2 of 3

adjective

ˈnäk-ə-ˌbau̇t How to pronounce knockabout (audio)
as in rollicking
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way a knockabout game of football in the mud

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

knockabout

3 of 3

noun

as in gypsy
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination the book is one writer's journey of self-discovery as a restless knockabout

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of knock (about)
Adjective
Though thematically vague, thinly plotted and without a reliably sympathetic soul to cling to, the movie has a mutinous energy and an absurd, knockabout charm; even its violence is more quirky than brutal. — Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock (about)
  1. roam
  2. rollicking
  3. wander
  4. boisterous
  5. drift
  6. lively
  7. stroll
  8. raucous
Verb
  • Room to roam: Wild Heaven Beer West End Communal seating, fire pits, and clear lines of sight to children running around offer ample opportunities to relax.
    — Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Loading your audio article SAN JOSE — Karlie Lema had the ball at her feet and plenty of green grass to roam.
    — Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of roam
Adjective
  • Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.
    — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 4 Feb. 2023
  • His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.
    — Sonal Dutt, Peoplemag, 23 Jan. 2023
Definition of rollicking
Verb
  • Elderly residents wandered off without supervision, medications weren’t properly administered, and emergency pull cords in some bedrooms didn’t work, the state alleged.
    — Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Droids also wandered about recently at SXSW in a presentation by Disney Experiences chairman Josh D’Amaro and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman called The Future of World Building At Disney.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of wander
Adjective
  • But the clothes themselves show plenty of personality under the false advertising; accordingly, Popov delivers a boisterous tale of a woman coming into her own, told with real humor and heart.
    — Stephen Saito, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
  • As the boisterous FreeCon meeting wound down, as people began to check phones for airline departures, there would have been a few holdouts of the absolutist sort — a few people who would refuse to sign a document acknowledging the Creator’s role in any benefaction whatsoever.
    — Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of boisterous
Verb
  • As another season at Tottenham Hotspur drifts towards an uncertain close, questions over the future of head coach Ange Postecoglou loom large.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The Standard & Poor’s 500 slipped 0.3% after drifting between small gains and losses several times through the day.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of drift
Adjective
  • The popularity of this area is booming, with creatives and entrepreneurs enjoying the proximity to both nature and a lively community.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Located in the lively South Lamar enclave, Zilker Studios also showcases its designer’s flair for space efficiency.
    — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of lively
Verb
  • From learning just enough French to ordering your café et croissant from the neighborhood boulangerie, to strolling around an artistic arrondissement, taking in the various shops and street style at a leisurely pace.
    — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Visitors can stroll downtown and receive samplings as well as a complimentary flower from each location.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of stroll
Adjective
  • This feels fitting for a company that aims to make people roll around with raucous laughter.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The few Republican officials who have held town halls lately have faced raucous crowds.
    — Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of raucous

Browse Nearby Words

knock
knock (about)
knockabout
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All