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
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
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
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Recent Examples of knock (about)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
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)
Verb
-
The legacy of the British Q-ships During World War I, more than 200 Q-ships—and perhaps as many as 400—roamed the seas.—
Sean Kingsley,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Feb. 2025
-
As nocturnal creatures, this provides them with a comfortable space to freely roam about.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Verb
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Each August, visiting Grandma Ida, my husband and son and I would wander the city (Detroit Institute of the Arts!—
SPIN Contributor,
SPIN,
11 Feb. 2025
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Then, caught in a flood that submerges everything, the cat ascends and eventually wanders toward a boat with a capybara, lemur, stork, and golden retriever.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In matters of texture, cotton, knits, and compelling fabrics arrived in the form of modern corsetry, slick pantsuits, and boisterous dresses in assorted hues.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
7 Feb. 2025
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There’s a profusion of bars in downtown Kansas City that offer boisterous partying and pounding music.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Indeed, in the past decade and a half, Israeli politics drifted towards conservative authoritarianism and Palestinian politics descended into corruption, division, and extremism, eroding the willingness of either side to trust the other or to compromise on anything.—
Peter L. Hahn / Made by History,
TIME,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The heavy winds and blowing snow have been drifting over the roads.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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If the fashion on the sidelines wasn't enough to hype up attendees, a lively dance performance to kick off the runway show did the trick.—
Anika Reed,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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That judgment works for me, but of course in their lively custom NR readers should feel free to improve my understanding of the matter in the comments section.—
Neal B. Freeman,
National Review,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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While much of Europe shivers in the winter, Asturias enjoys mild weather, with locals strolling along beaches in winter without jackets.—
Jenn Rice,
Vogue,
12 Feb. 2025
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But Twain liked to be able to stroll to downtown Hartford.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Smith, Kesha, Williams and more were spotted at Casa Cipriani in downtown Manhattan, tucked into the VIP section of a small dance party that got more raucous as the night progressed.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
8 Feb. 2025
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In New Orleans, raucous parades and celebrations during the Mardi Gras period – which take place all around the city – have sometimes been the site of gun violence.—
Jason Morris,
CNN,
6 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near knock (about)
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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