verb
knock
nok
verb
1
To strike something, especially a door, sharply with the knuckles or an object.
"Someone is knocking at the front door."
2
To criticize someone or something.
"Critics knocked the film for its weak script."
noun
1
A sharp rapping sound, or a blow or setback.
"She heard a knock at the door and went to answer it."
"Losing the contract was a real knock to the company's confidence."
How to Use Knock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo strike something sharply, or, figuratively, to criticize it — also the sound or blow itself.
Common pairings
knock on the door
knock someone's confidence
take a knock
Word Forms
knocked past tense, knocks plural, knocks singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “knock”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Someone is _____ at the front door.
Etymology
From Old English cnocian, "to knock, pound, or beat," an ancient Germanic word related to knuckle.