knocking out

Definition of knocking outnext
present participle of knock out

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of knocking out Communities across the Upper Midwest are cleaning up after tornadoes and severe weather impacted the region over the weekend, damaging and destroying dozens of homes and knocking out power for tens of thousands. Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026 The two teams avoided each other last postseason, with the Oklahoma City Thunder knocking out the Nuggets on their way to the Western Conference finals. Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026 Strong winds capable of knocking out power and damaging or even uprooting trees are also possible as the storms blast eastward into the evening across Michigan and northern parts of Ohio and Indiana. Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026 Within minutes, a dark brew of sewage, industrial waste, and stormwater was rising through basements and businesses, hospitals and the central rail station, knocking out power and causing a billion dollars in damage. Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Later in the decade, the Air Force deployed the more advanced BLU-114/B during the NATO bombing in the Balkans, knocking out more than 70% of Serbia’s national grid in a single night and plunging the country into darkness. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026 Geekom is one of the most consistent companies in the micro PC market, reliably knocking out little rectangles packed with processing power at ultra-low prices. K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026 Police say that when the friend refused, Rosas punched him in the face, knocking out his tooth, and commandeered the car. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026 Lake Howell beat rival Oviedo, then the region’s top-seed, Mainland, before knocking out the 2025 region champ, Tocoi Creek, in an 82-77 double-overtime game. Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knocking out
Verb
  • Eli Heidenreich walked down the long corridor, wearing his Navy service dress blues and the emotion of the moment all over his face.
    Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Probably one of the most ingrained is wearing pastels during the spring and summer months, with trendsetters and designers rallying around one specific shade for the past sever seasons.
    Lucía Tejo, Glamour, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • On Saturday, Moscow pummeled the central city of Dnipro and other areas for more than twenty hours with barrages of missiles and drones, killing at least seven people.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The coastal Georgia man arrested in 2018 and accused of torturing, killing and burying his two teenage children in the backyard of the family’s mobile home will spend the rest of his life behind bars after reaching a plea deal.
    Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In some ways, the Wolfpack were already destined for a reset, with veterans like Tre Holloman, Darrion Williams, Quadir Copeland and Ven-Allen Lubin all exhausting their eligibility.
    Brendan Marks, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Instead, America seems to be exhausting itself and its arsenals in the Middle East.
    Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • These design aspects allow users to operate it for extended periods without tiring or switching between different power outlets.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
  • This helps each step feel lighter and easier, diminishing fatigue and letting the wearer venture out farther without tiring.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • High school coaches cut back on mileage and intensity in response to charges that runners were burning out in their teens.
    Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Keeping it fresh How has a band that’s been together for more than 50 years managed to remain a creative force without burning out, splitting up or devolving into little more than a human jukebox pumping out nostalgia?
    Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • If a device frequently drops connection and can be fixed with a wiggle, there’s a good chance something is wearing out in the cable.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Time is short, our aging Mother Colorado River is simply wearing out.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Andrew Tate is not washing out.
    Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Tiny water droplets can scatter light, washing out the vivid reds and oranges.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Shane Lowry has the distinction of draining one of the more memorable putts in recent golf history.
    Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Grow crocosmia in moist, organically rich, well-draining soil in full sun to light shade.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Knocking out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knocking%20out. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster