verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌnɒk əˈbaʊt/
General-American:/ˌnɑk əˈbaʊt/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aʊt
1
verb
Meaning 1
To hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly; hence, to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, transitive
Examples
It was known that he would knock his wife about when he had been drinking.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: knock around, knock round
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To knock back a drink; to finish a drink.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To move or roam around aimlessly; to be in circulation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: knock around, knock round
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To move or roam around aimlessly; to be in circulation.
To live an unconventional life.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, informal, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: knock around, knock round
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To be present at or inhabit a certain place.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hang around
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To be present at or inhabit a certain place.
To engage in a relaxing activity in a place; to hang around in.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, informal, intransitive
Examples
I like to knock about the garden on Saturdays.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hang around, potter about, potter around
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To be present at or inhabit a certain place.
Often followed by with: to spend time companionably; to hang around.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, informal, intransitive
Examples
I used to knock about with John when we were younger.
John and I used to knock about when we were younger.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hang around, hang, hang about, knock around, knock round
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To be present at or inhabit a certain place.
To be mislaid in a place.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, informal, intransitive
Qualifier: usually in present participial form
Examples
I’ve got some scissors knocking about in the kitchen.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hang around, knock around, knock round, lie around
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
strike against forcefully
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Winds buffeted the tent
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: buffet, batter
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: strike
10
verb
Meaning 10
be around; be alive or active
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Does the old man still kick around?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: kick around, kick about
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: exist, be
History
Etymology
From knock (verb) + about.
Across languages
Translations
46 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
mukiloida
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Finnish:
rusikoida
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Greek:
κακοποιώ
(kakopoió)
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Macedonian:
ма́ва
(máva)
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Macedonian:
те́па
(tépa)
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Macedonian:
у́дира
(údira)
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Polish:
poniewierać
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Polish:
poobijać
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Polish:
sponiewierać
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Polish:
wytłuc
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Romanian:
cutreiera
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Russian:
напада́ть
(napadátʹ)
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Russian:
напа́сть
(napástʹ)
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Turkish:
ufalamak
— to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly
Finnish:
mukiloida
— to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat
Finnish:
rusikoida
— to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat
Polish:
pomiatać
— to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat
Polish:
pomieść
— to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat
Finnish:
elellä
— to live an unconventional life
Finnish:
pärjäillä
— to live an unconventional life
Finnish:
asustella
— to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit
Finnish:
hengata
— to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit
Finnish:
hengailla
— to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit
Finnish:
oleilla
— to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit
Finnish:
oleskella
— to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit
Greek:
αλωνίζω
(alonízo)
— to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit
Dutch:
rondhangen
— to engage in a relaxing activity in a place
Finnish:
hengata
— to engage in a relaxing activity in a place
Finnish:
norkoilla
— to engage in a relaxing activity in a place
Finnish:
oleilla
— to engage in a relaxing activity in a place
Macedonian:
се мо́тка
(se mótka)
— to engage in a relaxing activity in a place
Macedonian:
се вр́ти
(se vŕti)
— to engage in a relaxing activity in a place
Russian:
зависать
(zavisatʹ)
— to engage in a relaxing activity in a place
Dutch:
uithangen
— to spend time companionably
Finnish:
hengailla
— to spend time companionably
Finnish:
hengata
— to spend time companionably
Finnish:
viettää aikaa ... kanssa
— to spend time companionably
Macedonian:
се вр́ти
(se vŕti)
— to spend time companionably
Russian:
тусова́ться
(tusovátʹsja)
— to spend time companionably
Russian:
зависа́ть
(zavisátʹ)
— to spend time companionably
Russian:
зави́снуть
(zavísnutʹ)
— to spend time companionably
Dutch:
rondzwerven
— to be mislaid in a place
Finnish:
sattua olemaan
— to be mislaid in a place
German:
rumfliegen
— to be mislaid in a place
Macedonian:
за́губи
(zágubi)
— to be mislaid in a place
Russian:
запропаститься
(zapropastitʹsja)
— to be mislaid in a place
