"knock about" meaning in English

See knock about in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /ˌnɒk əˈbaʊt/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˌnɑk əˈbaʊt/ [General-American] Audio: En-us-knock about.oga [General-American] Forms: knocks about [present, singular, third-person], knocking about [participle, present], knocked about [participle, past], knocked about [past]
Rhymes: -aʊt Etymology: From knock (verb) + about. Etymology templates: {{m|en|knock|pos=verb}} knock (verb), {{m|en|about}} about Head templates: {{en-verb|*}} knock about (third-person singular simple present knocks about, present participle knocking about, simple past and past participle knocked about)
  1. (transitive) To hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly; hence, to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something). Tags: informal, transitive Synonyms: knock around, knock round Translations (to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat): mukiloida (Finnish), rusikoida (Finnish), pomiatać [imperfective] (Polish), pomieść [perfective] (Polish) Translations (to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly): mukiloida (Finnish), rusikoida (Finnish), κακοποιώ (kakopoió) (Greek), ма́ва (máva) (Macedonian), те́па (tépa) (Macedonian), у́дира (údira) (Macedonian), poniewierać [imperfective] (Polish), poobijać [perfective] (Polish), sponiewierać [perfective] (Polish), wytłuc (english: when travelling) [perfective, reflexive] (Polish), cutreiera (Romanian), напада́ть (napadátʹ) [imperfective] (Russian), напа́сть (napástʹ) [perfective] (Russian), ufalamak [figuratively] (Turkish)
    Sense id: en-knock_about-en-verb-Udo6TyhH Disambiguation of 'to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat': 60 7 7 5 17 5 Disambiguation of 'to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly': 80 3 3 1 10 2
  2. (intransitive)
    To move or roam around aimlessly.
    Tags: informal, intransitive Synonyms: knock around, knock round
    Sense id: en-knock_about-en-verb-lGjMLQEm
  3. (intransitive)
    To move or roam around aimlessly.
    (by extension) To live an unconventional life.
    Tags: broadly, informal, intransitive Synonyms: knock around, knock round Translations (to live an unconventional life): elellä (Finnish), pärjäillä [colloquial] (Finnish)
    Sense id: en-knock_about-en-verb-TZosTeHA Disambiguation of 'to live an unconventional life': 0 0 98 0 1 0
  4. (intransitive)
    To be present at or inhabit a certain place.
    (by extension) To engage in a relaxing activity in a place; to hang around in.
    Tags: broadly, informal, intransitive Synonyms: hang around, potter about, potter around Translations (to engage in a relaxing activity in a place): rondhangen (Dutch), hengata [colloquial] (Finnish), norkoilla (Finnish), oleilla (Finnish), се мо́тка (se mótka) (Macedonian), се вр́ти (se vŕti) (Macedonian), зависать (zavisatʹ) [imperfective, informal] (Russian)
    Sense id: en-knock_about-en-verb-RTaABIja Disambiguation of 'to engage in a relaxing activity in a place': 1 1 1 80 3 13
  5. (intransitive)
    To be present at or inhabit a certain place.
    (by extension) Often followed by with: to spend time companionably; to hang around.
    Tags: broadly, informal, intransitive Categories (topical): Violence Synonyms: hang around, hang, hang about, knock around, knock round Derived forms: knock-about [noun], knockabout [noun] Translations (to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit): asustella (Finnish), hengata [colloquial] (Finnish), hengailla [colloquial] (Finnish), oleilla (Finnish), oleskella (Finnish), αλωνίζω (alonízo) (Greek) Translations (to spend time companionably): uithangen (Dutch), hengailla [colloquial] (Finnish), hengata [colloquial] (Finnish), viettää aikaa ... kanssa (Finnish), се вр́ти (se vŕti) (Macedonian), тусова́ться (tusovátʹsja) [imperfective, informal] (Russian), зависа́ть (zavisátʹ) [imperfective, informal] (Russian), зави́снуть (zavísnutʹ) [informal, perfective] (Russian)
    Sense id: en-knock_about-en-verb-SfnuPgpE Disambiguation of Violence: 22 16 16 9 29 9 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with topic categories using raw markup, English phrasal verbs with particle (about), English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 13 15 15 12 32 12 Disambiguation of English entries with topic categories using raw markup: 15 16 16 8 33 13 Disambiguation of English phrasal verbs with particle (about): 12 14 14 13 36 11 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 14 14 14 9 36 11 Disambiguation of 'to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit': 3 3 3 28 36 28 Disambiguation of 'to spend time companionably': 2 2 2 5 86 3
  6. (intransitive)
    To be present at or inhabit a certain place.
    (by extension, usually in present participial form) To be mislaid in a place.
    Tags: broadly, informal, intransitive Synonyms: hang around, knock around, knock round, lie around Translations (to be mislaid in a place): rondzwerven (Dutch), sattua olemaan (Finnish), rumfliegen (German), за́губи (zágubi) (Macedonian), запропаститься (zapropastitʹsja) [imperfective] (Russian)
    Sense id: en-knock_about-en-verb-BGLeIjJj Disambiguation of 'to be mislaid in a place': 1 0 1 13 3 83

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for knock about meaning in English (14.4kB)

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "knock",
        "pos": "verb"
      },
      "expansion": "knock (verb)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "about"
      },
      "expansion": "about",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From knock (verb) + about.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "knocks about",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "knocking about",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "knocked about",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "knocked about",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*"
      },
      "expansion": "knock about (third-person singular simple present knocks about, present participle knocking about, simple past and past participle knocked about)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "It was known that he would knock his wife about when he had been drinking.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2023 February 22, Stephen Roberts, “Reading … between the lines … to Wales”, in Rail, number 977, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 56",
          "text": "The place also got knocked about during the English Civil War, with \"the spire [of its church] having been destroyed by the artillery of the Parliamentary forces\".",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly; hence, to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something)."
      ],
      "id": "en-knock_about-en-verb-Udo6TyhH",
      "links": [
        [
          "hit",
          "hit#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "all over",
          "all over"
        ],
        [
          "repeatedly",
          "repeatedly"
        ],
        [
          "behave",
          "behave"
        ],
        [
          "violently",
          "violently"
        ],
        [
          "mistreat",
          "mistreat"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly; hence, to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something)."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal",
        "transitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "word": "mukiloida"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "word": "rusikoida"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "kakopoió",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "word": "κακοποιώ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "máva",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "word": "ма́ва"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "tépa",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "word": "те́па"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "údira",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "word": "у́дира"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "poniewierać"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "poobijać"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "sponiewierać"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "pl",
          "english": "when travelling",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "tags": [
            "perfective",
            "reflexive"
          ],
          "word": "wytłuc"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "word": "cutreiera"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "napadátʹ",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "напада́ть"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "napástʹ",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "напа́сть"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "80 3 3 1 10 2",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
          "tags": [
            "figuratively"
          ],
          "word": "ufalamak"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 7 7 5 17 5",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat",
          "word": "mukiloida"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 7 7 5 17 5",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat",
          "word": "rusikoida"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 7 7 5 17 5",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "pomiatać"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 7 7 5 17 5",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat",
          "tags": [
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "pomieść"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "To move or roam around aimlessly."
      ],
      "id": "en-knock_about-en-verb-lGjMLQEm",
      "links": [
        [
          "move",
          "move#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "roam",
          "roam#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "aimlessly",
          "aimlessly"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To move or roam around aimlessly."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "To move or roam around aimlessly.",
        "To live an unconventional life."
      ],
      "id": "en-knock_about-en-verb-TZosTeHA",
      "links": [
        [
          "move",
          "move#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "roam",
          "roam#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "aimlessly",
          "aimlessly"
        ],
        [
          "live",
          "live#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "unconventional",
          "unconventional#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "life",
          "life#Noun"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To move or roam around aimlessly.",
        "(by extension) To live an unconventional life."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 98 0 1 0",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to live an unconventional life",
          "word": "elellä"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 0 98 0 1 0",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to live an unconventional life",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial"
          ],
          "word": "pärjäillä"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I like to knock about the garden on Saturdays.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "To engage in a relaxing activity in a place; to hang around in."
      ],
      "id": "en-knock_about-en-verb-RTaABIja",
      "links": [
        [
          "present",
          "present#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "inhabit",
          "inhabit"
        ],
        [
          "place",
          "place#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "engage",
          "engage#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "relaxing",
          "relaxing#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "activity",
          "activity"
        ],
        [
          "hang around",
          "hang around"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "(by extension) To engage in a relaxing activity in a place; to hang around in."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "hang around"
        },
        {
          "word": "potter about"
        },
        {
          "word": "potter around"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 1 80 3 13",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
          "word": "rondhangen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 1 80 3 13",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial"
          ],
          "word": "hengata"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 1 80 3 13",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
          "word": "norkoilla"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 1 80 3 13",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
          "word": "oleilla"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 1 80 3 13",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "se mótka",
          "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
          "word": "се мо́тка"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 1 80 3 13",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "se vŕti",
          "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
          "word": "се вр́ти"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 1 1 80 3 13",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zavisatʹ",
          "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective",
            "informal"
          ],
          "word": "зависать"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "13 15 15 12 32 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "15 16 16 8 33 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with topic categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "12 14 14 13 36 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English phrasal verbs with particle (about)",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "14 14 14 9 36 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "22 16 16 9 29 9",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Violence",
          "orig": "en:Violence",
          "parents": [
            "Human behaviour",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "_dis1": "11 10 11 13 44 10",
          "tags": [
            "noun"
          ],
          "word": "knock-about"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "11 10 11 13 44 10",
          "tags": [
            "noun"
          ],
          "word": "knockabout"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I used to knock about with John when we were younger.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "John and I used to knock about when we were younger.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "Often followed by with: to spend time companionably; to hang around."
      ],
      "id": "en-knock_about-en-verb-SfnuPgpE",
      "links": [
        [
          "present",
          "present#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "inhabit",
          "inhabit"
        ],
        [
          "place",
          "place#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "with",
          "with"
        ],
        [
          "spend time",
          "spend time"
        ],
        [
          "companionably",
          "companionable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "(by extension) Often followed by with: to spend time companionably; to hang around."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "hang around"
        },
        {
          "word": "hang"
        },
        {
          "word": "hang about"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 3 28 36 28",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
          "word": "asustella"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 3 28 36 28",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial"
          ],
          "word": "hengata"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 3 28 36 28",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial"
          ],
          "word": "hengailla"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 3 28 36 28",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
          "word": "oleilla"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 3 28 36 28",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
          "word": "oleskella"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 3 3 28 36 28",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "alonízo",
          "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
          "word": "αλωνίζω"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 2 2 5 86 3",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to spend time companionably",
          "word": "uithangen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 2 2 5 86 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to spend time companionably",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial"
          ],
          "word": "hengailla"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 2 2 5 86 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to spend time companionably",
          "tags": [
            "colloquial"
          ],
          "word": "hengata"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 2 2 5 86 3",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to spend time companionably",
          "word": "viettää aikaa ... kanssa"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 2 2 5 86 3",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "se vŕti",
          "sense": "to spend time companionably",
          "word": "се вр́ти"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 2 2 5 86 3",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "tusovátʹsja",
          "sense": "to spend time companionably",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective",
            "informal"
          ],
          "word": "тусова́ться"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 2 2 5 86 3",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zavisátʹ",
          "sense": "to spend time companionably",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective",
            "informal"
          ],
          "word": "зависа́ть"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 2 2 5 86 3",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zavísnutʹ",
          "sense": "to spend time companionably",
          "tags": [
            "informal",
            "perfective"
          ],
          "word": "зави́снуть"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I’ve got some scissors knocking about in the kitchen.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "To be mislaid in a place."
      ],
      "id": "en-knock_about-en-verb-BGLeIjJj",
      "links": [
        [
          "present",
          "present#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "inhabit",
          "inhabit"
        ],
        [
          "place",
          "place#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "present participial",
          "present participle"
        ],
        [
          "mislaid",
          "mislaid#Adjective"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "usually in present participial form",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "(by extension, usually in present participial form) To be mislaid in a place."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "hang around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        },
        {
          "word": "lie around"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "1 0 1 13 3 83",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
          "word": "rondzwerven"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 0 1 13 3 83",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
          "word": "sattua olemaan"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 0 1 13 3 83",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
          "word": "rumfliegen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 0 1 13 3 83",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "roman": "zágubi",
          "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
          "word": "за́губи"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 0 1 13 3 83",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "zapropastitʹsja",
          "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
          "tags": [
            "imperfective"
          ],
          "word": "запропаститься"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˌnɒk əˈbaʊt/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˌnɑk əˈbaʊt/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-aʊt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "En-us-knock about.oga",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2f/En-us-knock_about.oga/En-us-knock_about.oga.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/En-us-knock_about.oga",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (GA)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "knock about"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
    "English informal terms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English phrasal verbs",
    "English phrasal verbs with particle (about)",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
    "English verbs",
    "Rhymes:English/aʊt",
    "Rhymes:English/aʊt/3 syllables",
    "en:Violence"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "noun"
      ],
      "word": "knock-about"
    },
    {
      "tags": [
        "noun"
      ],
      "word": "knockabout"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "knock",
        "pos": "verb"
      },
      "expansion": "knock (verb)",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "about"
      },
      "expansion": "about",
      "name": "m"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From knock (verb) + about.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "knocks about",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "knocking about",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "knocked about",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "knocked about",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*"
      },
      "expansion": "knock about (third-person singular simple present knocks about, present participle knocking about, simple past and past participle knocked about)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "It was known that he would knock his wife about when he had been drinking.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2023 February 22, Stephen Roberts, “Reading … between the lines … to Wales”, in Rail, number 977, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 56",
          "text": "The place also got knocked about during the English Civil War, with \"the spire [of its church] having been destroyed by the artillery of the Parliamentary forces\".",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly; hence, to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "hit",
          "hit#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "all over",
          "all over"
        ],
        [
          "repeatedly",
          "repeatedly"
        ],
        [
          "behave",
          "behave"
        ],
        [
          "violently",
          "violently"
        ],
        [
          "mistreat",
          "mistreat"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly; hence, to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something)."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To move or roam around aimlessly."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "move",
          "move#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "roam",
          "roam#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "aimlessly",
          "aimlessly"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To move or roam around aimlessly."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To move or roam around aimlessly.",
        "To live an unconventional life."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "move",
          "move#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "roam",
          "roam#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "aimlessly",
          "aimlessly"
        ],
        [
          "live",
          "live#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "unconventional",
          "unconventional#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "life",
          "life#Noun"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To move or roam around aimlessly.",
        "(by extension) To live an unconventional life."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I like to knock about the garden on Saturdays.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "To engage in a relaxing activity in a place; to hang around in."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "present",
          "present#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "inhabit",
          "inhabit"
        ],
        [
          "place",
          "place#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "engage",
          "engage#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "relaxing",
          "relaxing#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "activity",
          "activity"
        ],
        [
          "hang around",
          "hang around"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "(by extension) To engage in a relaxing activity in a place; to hang around in."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "hang around"
        },
        {
          "word": "potter about"
        },
        {
          "word": "potter around"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I used to knock about with John when we were younger.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "John and I used to knock about when we were younger.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "Often followed by with: to spend time companionably; to hang around."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "present",
          "present#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "inhabit",
          "inhabit"
        ],
        [
          "place",
          "place#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "with",
          "with"
        ],
        [
          "spend time",
          "spend time"
        ],
        [
          "companionably",
          "companionable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "(by extension) Often followed by with: to spend time companionably; to hang around."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "hang around"
        },
        {
          "word": "hang"
        },
        {
          "word": "hang about"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English intransitive verbs",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I’ve got some scissors knocking about in the kitchen.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "To be mislaid in a place."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "present",
          "present#Adjective"
        ],
        [
          "inhabit",
          "inhabit"
        ],
        [
          "place",
          "place#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "present participial",
          "present participle"
        ],
        [
          "mislaid",
          "mislaid#Adjective"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "usually in present participial form",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(intransitive)",
        "To be present at or inhabit a certain place.",
        "(by extension, usually in present participial form) To be mislaid in a place."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "hang around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock around"
        },
        {
          "word": "knock round"
        },
        {
          "word": "lie around"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly",
        "informal",
        "intransitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˌnɒk əˈbaʊt/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˌnɑk əˈbaʊt/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-aʊt"
    },
    {
      "audio": "En-us-knock about.oga",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2f/En-us-knock_about.oga/En-us-knock_about.oga.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/En-us-knock_about.oga",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (GA)"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "word": "mukiloida"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "word": "rusikoida"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "kakopoió",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "word": "κακοποιώ"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "máva",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "word": "ма́ва"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "tépa",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "word": "те́па"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "údira",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "word": "у́дира"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "poniewierać"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "poobijać"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "sponiewierać"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "english": "when travelling",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "tags": [
        "perfective",
        "reflexive"
      ],
      "word": "wytłuc"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "word": "cutreiera"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "napadátʹ",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "напада́ть"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "napástʹ",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "напа́сть"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "to hit (someone or something) all over repeatedly",
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ],
      "word": "ufalamak"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat",
      "word": "mukiloida"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat",
      "word": "rusikoida"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "pomiatać"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "to behave violently towards or mistreat (someone or something) — see also mistreat",
      "tags": [
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "pomieść"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to live an unconventional life",
      "word": "elellä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to live an unconventional life",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "word": "pärjäillä"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
      "word": "asustella"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "word": "hengata"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "word": "hengailla"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
      "word": "oleilla"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
      "word": "oleskella"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "alonízo",
      "sense": "to be present at or inhabit a certain place — see also hang around, inhabit",
      "word": "αλωνίζω"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
      "word": "rondhangen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "word": "hengata"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
      "word": "norkoilla"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
      "word": "oleilla"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "se mótka",
      "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
      "word": "се мо́тка"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "se vŕti",
      "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
      "word": "се вр́ти"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zavisatʹ",
      "sense": "to engage in a relaxing activity in a place",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective",
        "informal"
      ],
      "word": "зависать"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to spend time companionably",
      "word": "uithangen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to spend time companionably",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "word": "hengailla"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to spend time companionably",
      "tags": [
        "colloquial"
      ],
      "word": "hengata"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to spend time companionably",
      "word": "viettää aikaa ... kanssa"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "se vŕti",
      "sense": "to spend time companionably",
      "word": "се вр́ти"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "tusovátʹsja",
      "sense": "to spend time companionably",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective",
        "informal"
      ],
      "word": "тусова́ться"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zavisátʹ",
      "sense": "to spend time companionably",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective",
        "informal"
      ],
      "word": "зависа́ть"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zavísnutʹ",
      "sense": "to spend time companionably",
      "tags": [
        "informal",
        "perfective"
      ],
      "word": "зави́снуть"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
      "word": "rondzwerven"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
      "word": "sattua olemaan"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
      "word": "rumfliegen"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "roman": "zágubi",
      "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
      "word": "за́губи"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "zapropastitʹsja",
      "sense": "to be mislaid in a place",
      "tags": [
        "imperfective"
      ],
      "word": "запропаститься"
    }
  ],
  "word": "knock about"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.