knockout

1 of 3

noun

knock·out ˈnäk-ˌau̇t

: the act of knocking out : the condition of being knocked out

b(1)

: the termination of a boxing match when one boxer has been knocked down and is unable to rise and resume boxing within a specified time

(2)

: technical knockout

: a blow that knocks out an opponent

: a sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive person or thing

knockout

2 of 3

adjective

: causing a knockout

a knockout blow

: sensationally striking, appealing, or attractive

a knockout dress

: having all or part of a gene eliminated or inactivated by genetic engineering

knockout mice predisposed to diabetes mellitus

knock out

3 of 3

verb

knocked out; knocking out; knocks out

transitive verb

: to produce roughly or hastily

a(1)

: to defeat (a boxing opponent) by a knockout

(2)

: to make unconscious

the drug knocked him out

: to make inoperative or useless

electricity was knocked out by the storm

: to get rid of : eliminate

knocked out illegal gambling

: to tire out : exhaust

knocked themselves out with work

: to cause (an opposing pitcher) to be removed from a baseball game by a batting rally

Example Sentences

Noun He won the match by a knockout. He scored a knockout in the fourth round. She's a real knockout in that dress. Adjective The Wimbledon tennis tournament is a knockout competition. a knockout sports car that's the talk of the neighborhood Verb the entire staff knocked itself out getting the project finished on time See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ariana Caldwell is a knockout as the child — now-scared, now-high-spirited — and also aces the role of Young Ti Moune.

Celia Wren, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2022 These are made with all-natural ingredients (think cassava, olive oil, and carrot), no grains or sugar, and most importantly – are a knockout in the taste department.

Katie Chang, Forbes, 23 May 2021 In his final fight, Johnson defeated Jose Augusto by knockout to end his career with 23 wins and 6 loses.

Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2022 The 35-year-old Pereira defeated Adesanya twice -- once by knockout -- in their old kickboxing days and the wins got the challenger fast-tracked to a title match after just three UFC fights.

Arkansas Online, 14 Nov. 2022 The 35-year-old Pereira defeated Adesanya twice -- once by knockout -- in their old kickboxing days and the wins got the challenger fast-tracked to a title match after just three UFC fights.

Dan Gelston, ajc, 13 Nov. 2022 The UConn football team went all 12 rounds with No. 19 Liberty on Saturday afternoon and eventually the Huskies won, 36-33, by knockout.

Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Nov. 2022 Mancini, a Youngstown native, fought as a lightweight and was 29-5 with 23 wins by knockout.

Marc Bona, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2022 Shavers fought as a professional from 1969 through 1995 and completed his career with a 74-14-1 record – a ledger that included 68 wins by knockout.

Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 1 Sep. 2022

Adjective

The World Cup's first day of knockout games started with the United States taking on the Netherlands, winners of Group A which went 2-0-1 and outscored its three opponents 5-1.

Wally Hall, Arkansas Online, 4 Dec. 2022 Unlike in the group stage, when games can end in ties, there has to be a winner in knockout games.

Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2022 Pulisic's head coach, Gregg Berhalter, told reporters earlier on Friday that Pulisic had a good chance to play in the knockout stage match.

Chantz Martin, Fox News, 2 Dec. 2022 Now, after the latest iteration of Kellyoke on the Kelly Clarkson Show, the host can add performing the knockout collaboration live alongside the country icon herself to her list of brag-worthy accomplishments.

Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2022 The pressure of a knockout match can’t be simulated.

Ray Reid, Hartford Courant, 25 Nov. 2022 The squad has plenty of knockout experience, Gareth Southgate is the only England manager to reach the semifinals in two major tournaments since the 1960s, and captain Harry Kane leads England’s best assortment of attacking talent in 20 years.

Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2022 Berhalter has preached ad nausuem about dividing the World Cup into two distinct events: the group stage and the knockout round.

Sean Gregory, Time, 16 Nov. 2022 Arnold Schwarzenegger almost delivered a knockout punch to Sylvester Stallone's career in the early '90s, according to the Rocky actor.

Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 11 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knockout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.