knock

A short sound made when something hard hits a wooden surface, especially a door.

• I heard a knock.
• Three sharp knocks came from the front door.
• Did you hear that knock on the wooden wall?

How to use it: a knock at/on something (A knock at the door woke me.)

Similar words: tap, rap

Common phrases: a loud knock, knock at the door, knock on wood

A sudden hit against something, which may cause pain or damage.

• My knee took a knock.
• The box survived several knocks during the journey.
• He felt dizzy after a knock on the head.

How to use it: a knock on/to something (She received a knock to her shoulder.)

Similar words: blow, bump, hit

Common phrases: a hard knock, take a knock, knock on the head

A player's turn at hitting the ball in cricket, including the runs they score.

• She played a fine knock.
• His unbeaten knock saved the cricket match.
• The captain's knock of sixty included eight boundaries.

How to use it: a knock of + number (His knock of eighty helped the team win.)

Similar words: innings

Common phrases: a fine knock, an unbeaten knock, knock of fifty

A hit that sends a baseball into the playing field, especially one that lets the batter reach base.

• His knock reached the outfield.
• Two base knocks brought a runner home.
• The batter's final knock won the game.

Similar words: hit, base hit

Common phrases: a base knock, a solid knock, an extra-base knock

To hit a surface with the joints of your fingers, usually to get someone's attention at a door.

• Please knock before you enter.
• I knocked on the door, but nobody answered.
• She knocked gently on the wooden frame.

How to use it: knock on/at something (Someone knocked at the kitchen door.)

Similar words: tap, rap

Common phrases: knock on something, knock at the door, knock before entering

To hit something, often by accident, or make it move by hitting it.

• I knocked my elbow.
• She accidentally knocked the cup off the shelf.
• He knocked the ball across the field.

How to use it: knock something against something (I knocked my knee against the table.); knock something + direction (He knocked the ball into the garden.)

Similar words: hit, bump, strike

Common phrases: knock something over, knock something off, knock the ball

To say bad things about someone or something, often unfairly.

• Stop knocking my ideas.
• They knocked his cooking without tasting it.
• It's easy to knock someone else's efforts.

How to use it: knock someone/something for something (People knocked her for choosing a different career.)

Similar words: criticize, put down, disparage

Opposites: praise

Common phrases: knock someone's work, knock the idea, knock someone's efforts