knock - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
knock Word Meanings
- to hit a surface loudly
- to make a sound by hitting
- to invite attention by banging or tapping
knock Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
knock Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/nɒk/
US
/nɑk/
knock Word Etymology
knock = knock (root); Origin: Middle English knokken → Old Norse knoka → Modern English. Imagine a person outside a door, raising their hand and making a loud thud against the wood to gain entry, creating a sense of anticipation and urgency, like a surprise visit.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
Hands hover at the door, you move your knuckles toward the wood. You hold your breath, then place and tap, a small rhythm that makes the air shift around your fingers. You push a little more, adjust your aim, and listen for the sound to rise. The knock feels like a cue that invites someone to answer, turning a moment into a conversation.
Real Context
Knock is a simple verb used to describe striking a surface loudly to gain attention or entry. It most often appears with doors: you knock on or knock at a door to announce yourself. It can also mean to produce a sound by hitting something, as when you knock a pencil on a desk. The sense of inviting attention by banging or tapping is common in social visits or alerts. Note that knock is separate from knock out or knock off, which have different meanings in other contexts. In everyday speech, you typically say 'knock on the door' or 'knock loudly' depending on emphasis.
Usage Reminders
- Remember to use prepositions with knock: knock on the door (surface touched), knock at the door (entry request). Pronounce with a short o sound in 'knock'. Do not mix with knock out (to defeat) or knock off (to remove). Use 'knock' for making sounds, and 'knock on' for inviting entry. For far contexts, knock can imply a neutral or forceful tone depending on emphasis. Practice both loud and soft knocks in different situations.
Common Misconceptions
- Knock always means physical violence; it does not.
- Knock is only used with doors; you can knock on surfaces like tables.
- Knock on a door and knock at a door have the same nuance in every context.
- Knock is the same as 'sound' or 'hit' in all situations; it changes with prepositions.
- Confusing knock with 'knock out' or 'knock off' in casual speech.
Thinking Differences
Native English tends to attach subtle nuance to knock with prepositions (on vs at) and to distinguish knock as sound-making vs entry-notification. Learners often overgeneralize to other verbs like hit or beat or confuse knock with ring/knock out.
Learning Tips
- Practice with a door in a sheltered hallway to hear the difference in volume.
- Use 'knock on' for announcing entry, 'knock at' can imply a request.
- Avoid confusing with 'knock out' when talking about competition or injury.
- Record yourself saying both the noun 'knock' (sound) and the verb usage.
- Notice the stress pattern in longer phrases like 'knock on the door' vs 'knock loudly'.
- Ballpark common collocations: knock on/at the door, knock loudly, knock against.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'knock'?
A.To hit a surface to make a sound or get someone's attention
B.To quietly speak to someone in confidence
C.To repair a broken object by tightening parts
D.To move something slowly from one place to another
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'knock' correctly?
A.Please knock on the door before you enter
B.I will knock the meeting to tomorrow
C.She knocked the recipe into the cake while baking
D.They knocked the television to increase the volume
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar in meaning to 'knock'?
A.rap
B.push
C.repair
D.whisper
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is the opposite of 'knock'?
A.silence
B.push
C.fix
D.compliment
Step 5: Mastery
Can you give an example of a real-life context where you would use the word 'knock'?
A.Before entering a home, you hit the door briefly to get someone's attention and wait for them to respond
B.You press multiple keys on your keyboard to try to fix a frozen app
C.You slam a cabinet shut to show that you are upset
D.You press the elevator button and step back to wait for the doors
Related Listening
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