knock-out
knock-out
Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
/ˈnɒk.aʊt/
Syllable Breakdown
knock:
/n/ - a nasal consonant sound, made by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth and letting air out through the nose.
/ɒ/ - a short, open-mid back rounded vowel sound, as in "pot" or "hot."
/k/ - a voiceless velar stop consonant sound, made by blocking airflow at the back of the mouth and releasing it.
out:
/aʊ/ - a diphthong sound, which is a combination of two vowel sounds that start with /a/ and glide towards /ʊ/.
/t/ - a voiceless alveolar stop consonant sound, made by briefly stopping airflow with the tongue against the alveolar ridge and then releasing it.
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: knockout
Plural Noun: knockouts
Verb (base form): knock out
Verb (past tense): knocked out
Verb (past participle): knocked out
Verb (present participle): knocking out
Adjective: knockout
Adverb: (Not typically used in this form)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A decisive blow or series of blows that renders an opponent unconscious or unable to continue in a competition, particularly in boxing or other combat sports.
Synonyms: kayo (slang), finisher, decisive blow
Antonyms: decision, technical knockout (TKO - a close but not identical concept), point victory
A person or thing of exceptional quality, attractiveness, or effectiveness.
Synonyms: stunner, bombshell, sensation, showstopper, masterpiece, gem
Antonyms: dud, disappointment, letdown, failure
A competition in which contestants are eliminated after each round until only a single winner remains.
Synonyms: elimination tournament, single-elimination tournament, playoffs, bracket
Antonyms: round-robin, league
Verb (Knock Out)
To render someone unconscious or unable to continue in a fight or competition by delivering a powerful blow.
Synonyms: floor, deck, drop, flatten, lay out
Antonyms: revive, awaken, bring to
To complete or accomplish a task, especially a large or difficult one, quickly and efficiently.
Synonyms: finish, complete, dispatch, polish off, wrap up
Antonyms: start, begin, procrastinate, delay
To destroy or disable something, such as a machine or a military target.
Synonyms: incapacitate, disable, neutralize, destroy, cripple
Antonyms: repair, fix, restore, activate
Adjective
Extremely impressive, attractive, or effective.
Synonyms: stunning, sensational, breathtaking, magnificent, fantastic
Antonyms: ordinary, unremarkable, mediocre, unimpressive
Examples of Use
Noun
"The champion delivered a powerful right hook in the third round, resulting in a knockout that ended the fight decisively." (ESPN, October 2023)
"She wore a stunning red dress to the gala, and everyone agreed she was a real knockout."
"The final rounds of the World Cup are a knockout tournament, where a single loss sends a team home."
Verb (knock out)
"A sudden power surge knocked out the entire city block for several hours."
"He was determined to knock out all his assignments before the weekend so he could relax."
"The fighter's goal was to knock out his opponent in the early rounds to save energy."
Adjective
"Critics are calling the new film a knockout success, praising its stunning visuals and compelling storyline." (Variety, November 2023)
"The chef prepared a knockout dessert that left everyone speechless."
"The company's new marketing campaign was a knockout, boosting sales by 20% in the first quarter."
10 Famous Quotes Using Knock-Out
"If you want to be a champion, you have to be able to go the distance, but you also have to have the power to get the knockout." - Sugar Ray Leonard (as cited in The Greatest Fights in Boxing History, 2005)
"A man's got to take a lot of knockouts to find his chin." - Chuck Wepner
"I got a lot of knockouts, but I didn't get them all with one punch." - Mike Tyson
"I'm not trying to be a knockout artist, I'm just trying to win." - Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"A great right hand can't win a fight on its own, but a great knockout punch can." - Muhammad Ali (as cited in The Muhammad Ali Story, 1996)
"He was a fighter who could take a knockout and come back to win." - Larry Holmes
"I'm going to look for the knockout every time." - Conor McGregor
"My whole career I've been a knockout artist." - Deontay Wilder
"I always believe that if you have a great chin, a great heart and a great right hand, you have a chance to get a knockout." - Joe Frazier
"A knockout is the ultimate expression of the fighter's art." - George Foreman (as cited in By George: The Autobiography of George Foreman, 2000)
Etymology
The word "knockout" is a compound word, which means it's made by combining two existing words: "knock" and "out."
The word "knock" has Germanic roots and has been in the English language since at least the 14th century, originally meaning to strike or hit. "Out" is also a very old word, coming from Old English, and it indicates moving away from or being external to something.
So, in the literal sense, "to knock out" originally meant to hit something hard enough to move it out of its place. The term's first known use in the sense of a boxing match, where one fighter is hit so hard they are "out" of the fight (unconscious), appeared in the mid-19th century. From there, its meaning expanded to describe anything that was powerful enough to be a showstopper, or to cause a competition to end decisively. By the early 20th century, the word had become a noun for something or someone that was very impressive or stunning, similar to the powerful effect a knockout punch has in a boxing match.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Knock-Out
A knockout blow: A decisive and final action that ends a competition or argument.
A knockout punch: The final, powerful strike that ends a boxing match; can also be used figuratively for a conclusive argument or action.
Knockout competition: A tournament where participants are eliminated after a single loss.
Knockout stage: The phase of a competition, like a soccer tournament, where single losses lead to elimination.
Go for the knockout: To try to end a fight or argument decisively and quickly.
A knockout performance: An exceptionally good or impressive display, especially in a show or competition.
To knock someone out of the running: To eliminate a person from a competition or race.
Knockout drug: A substance, such as a tranquilizer, used to incapacitate someone.
A real knockout: A phrase used to describe a person or thing that is extremely attractive or impressive.
Knockout roses: A specific variety of rose known for its hardiness and continuous blooming.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of knock-out from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
