knock
gb/nˈɑk/ us/nˈɑk/
A1
English
~ 2100
kopogtat, bekopog, felborít, fellök, kidönt, leszól, kopogás, motorkopogás, kopogásos égés
VERB
A1
1
Usage pattern:
to knock on [something]
She knocked on the door before entering.
Kopogtatott az ajtón, mielőtt belépett.
I heard someone knocking at the back door.
Hallottam, hogy valaki kopogtat a hátsó ajtón.
Please knock if you arrive after midnight.
He knocked three times and waited.
They knocked loudly to be heard over the music.
Learner examples
I knocked on the door.
Kopogtattam az ajtón.
She knocked at the window.
Kopogtatott az ablakon.
Please knock before you come in.
He knocked loudly.
They knocked on the gate.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'knock' with 'hit' or 'beat'; 'knock' is usually lighter and often for getting attention.
Meaning
Hit a surface to make noise
Collocations
knock on the door
|knock loudly
|soft knock
|knock gently
|knock at the window
Synonyms
rap (Slightly more formal or literary, often used for quick, light knocks.)
Antonyms
ignore (Choosing not to make any sound to get attention.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|daily_life
Definition
To hit something like a door with your hand to make a sound so someone will hear you.
To strike a surface, usually with the knuckles or an object, to produce a sound that attracts attention.
VERB
A2
2
Usage pattern:
to knock [something/someone] [over/down]
He knocked over the vase while cleaning.
Takarítás közben felborította a vázát.
The wind knocked down several trees.
A szél több fát is kidöntött.
She accidentally knocked him off his chair.
The boxer knocked his opponent out in the second round.
I knocked my coffee mug off the table.
Learner examples
I knocked over the cup.
Felborítottam a csészét.
The ball knocked him down.
A labda fellökte.
She knocked over the chair.
He knocked the box off the table.
The wind knocked down the tree.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget to include 'over' or 'down' when describing causing something to fall.
Meaning
Hit to make fall or move
Collocations
knock over a glass
|knock down a sign
|knock someone off balance
Synonyms
topple (Implies causing something tall or unstable to fall over.)
Antonyms
upright (To set or keep something standing straight.)
Themes
daily life
|sports
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hit someone or something so it falls down or moves away.
To strike someone or something so that they fall, are pushed over, or are moved from their place.
VERB
B1
INFORMAL
3
leszól
B2
Usage pattern:
to knock [someone/something]
Don't knock it until you've tried it.
Ne szóld le, amíg ki nem próbáltad.
He's always knocking his coworkers' suggestions.
Mindig leszólja a munkatársai javaslatait.
Stop knocking her—she's doing her best.
Critics were quick to knock the new film.
They kept knocking his work without offering solutions.
Learner examples
Don't knock my idea.
Ne szóld le az ötletemet.
She knocks her team too much.
Túl gyakran szólja le a csapatát.
They knock his work every day.
Stop knocking him.
He knocks everything I do.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physically hitting; here it means criticizing verbally.
Meaning
Speak badly about unfairly
Collocations
knock someone's ideas
|knock the competition
|always knocking
Synonyms
belittle (More formal; emphasizes making someone seem less important.)
Antonyms
praise (To say good things about someone or something.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
Definition
To say bad things about someone or something when it is not fair.
To speak negatively about someone or something, often without good reason.
NOUN
A1
4
kopogás
A2
There was a loud knock at the door.
Hangos kopogás hallatszott az ajtó felől.
I heard a gentle knock on the window.
Halk kopogást hallottam az ablakon.
A sudden knock interrupted our conversation.
The meeting was stopped by a knock from outside.
Three knocks signaled it was time to begin.
Learner examples
I heard a knock at the door.
Kopogást hallottam az ajtó felől.
There was a loud knock.
Hangos kopogás hallatszott.
He gave a soft knock on the table.
We heard two knocks on the wall.
A knock came from the window.
Meaning
Sound from hitting a surface
Collocations
a loud knock
|a gentle knock
|a knock at the door
Synonyms
tap (Usually lighter and softer than a knock.)
Antonyms
silence (The absence of any noise.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|daily_life
Definition
The sound you hear when someone hits something like a door with their hand.
A noise produced by striking a surface, especially to attract attention or signal entry.
NOUN
B2
TECHNICAL
5
motorkopogás
C1
The mechanic diagnosed the problem as engine knock.
A szerelő motorkopogást állapított meg.
Knock can damage your engine if left untreated.
A kopogásos égés károsíthatja a motort, ha nem szüntetik meg.
Using higher-octane fuel can prevent knock.
I heard a knocking sound from under the hood.
Engine knock is common in older cars.
Learner examples
The car has an engine knock.
Kopog az autó motorja.
I hear a knock in my car's engine.
Kopogást hallok az autóm motorjában.
Engine knock can break the motor.
He fixed the engine knock.
My car makes a knock when I drive fast.
Meaning
Engine noise from combustion problem
Collocations
engine knock
|detonation knock
Synonyms
pinging (Informal term used by mechanics for this engine noise.)
Antonyms
smooth running (An engine operating without unusual noises.)
Themes
technology
|transport
|transportation
Definition
A bad sound in an engine when fuel burns in the wrong way inside it.
A repetitive tapping or pinging noise from an engine caused by abnormal combustion of fuel in the cylinders.
Grammar
Dictionary form
knock
IPA
GB/nˈɑk/
US/nˈɑk/
Syllables & stress
knock (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (knock)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: knock
- Plural: knocks
Verb
- Base: knock
- 3rd Person Singular: knocks
- Present Participle: knocking
- Past: knocked
Word family
Forms
knocks
noun
knocking
verb
knocked
verb
Related words
knocker
noun
Advanced or less common
knockout
noun
Expressions
knock back
1/nˈɑk bˈæk/
phrasal verb
informal
Drink alcohol quickly
To drink alcohol very quickly, usually all at once.
Examples
- He knocked back three shots in a row.
- She knocked back her beer before leaving.
knock it off
1/nˈɑk ˈɪt ˈɔf/
idiom
informal
Stop doing that now!
Stop doing something that is annoying or bad right now.
Examples
- Knock it off! I'm trying to work here.
- You two need to knock it off before someone gets hurt.
knock off
1/nˈɑk ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
informal
Stop working for the day/break
To stop working, usually at the end of the day or before a break.
Examples
- Let's knock off early today and go for drinks.
- We usually knock off at five o'clock.
knock out
1/nˈɑk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Hit to make unconscious
To hit someone so they cannot stay awake.
Examples
- The boxer knocked out his opponent in round two.
- That fall nearly knocked me out.
knock on wood
1/nˈɑk ˈɔn wˈʊd/
idiom
informal
Touch wood for good luck
Say this and touch wood so that something good you said will not be followed by bad luck.
Examples
- The weather has been great all week, knock on wood.
- The team's been winning all season, knock on wood.
- I’ve never broken a bone, knock on wood.
- I haven't been sick all year—knock on wood.