as in to roam
to move about from place to place aimlessly
we knocked about from town to town, looking for work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in rollicking
being rough or noisy in a high-spirited way
a knockabout game of football in the mud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in gypsy
a person who roams about without a fixed route or destination
the book is one writer's journey of self-discovery as a restless knockabout
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock (about)
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Adjective
Though thematically vague, thinly plotted and without a reliably sympathetic soul to cling to, the movie has a mutinous energy and an absurd, knockabout charm; even its violence is more quirky than brutal.
—Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock (about)
Verb
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The other two dogs, who were able to roam the property, were found alive and taken into care.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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The dogs were reported by passersby who alerted the KC Pet Project that dogs appeared to be dumped and roaming the area.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Joy’s jazzy, smoky version of the Marvin Gaye classic, coupled with her velvety vocals, sparked another rollicking ovation led by John who was the first to stand up.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
4 Feb. 2023
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His setlist, a rollicking walk-down-memory-lane of solo hits, NKOTB favorites, standards, show tunes and cover songs, showcased his range as an entertainer, musical virtuoso and keen collaborator.—
Sonal Dutt,
Peoplemag,
23 Jan. 2023
Verb
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After a 3-month long girls trip along Florida’s Gulf Coast, a wayward pair of endangered North Atlantic right whales known as Curlew and Koala have finally wandered back to the Atlantic Ocean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Alberta is skeptical… until Hetty points out how Pete has been wandering and dating up a storm, was secretly in the mafia and punched Thor in the face after the Viking slept with Carol.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The first evening is boisterous and rowdy, thanks in part to the blues music played by the twins’ cousin Sammie Moore (Miles Caton).—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2025
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The siblings have very different personalities, as Jazz is calm and relaxed, whereas Jax is far more energetic and boisterous.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Throughout the show, Sheeran often drifted to the back of the stage to lock into tight grooves with bodhrán (an Irish drum) player Eamon Murray, as fiddle player Niamh Dunne carved out fiery solos.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
16 Apr. 2025
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The Tijuana River has been plagued with raw sewage and industrial waste from Tijuana for decades, fouling beaches along the U.S.-Mexico border with polluted water and sending foul odors drifting through communities in San Diego County.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Panelists had been carefully chosen and the moderators ensured lively debates took place.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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To introduce persimmon in a balanced way, Bassford recommends incorporating the color into decorative touches like wallpaper, upholstery, or bedding for a lively yet harmonious effect.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Walking, riding, limping, trudging, scooting, strolling — all the various forms of low-speed locomotion — define the experience of being in New York.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
18 Apr. 2025
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All to the excitement of onlookers strolling along the avenue, ending at Rockefeller Center to celebrate the day.—
Tonya Blazio-Licorish,
Footwear News,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The beginnings of the dissolution of dialogue Until 1990, American politics and government was always a raucous and contentious how-do-you-do, but ultimately a cooperative venture to one degree or another.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
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What compelled you to pivot to horror in 1930s Mississippi, infused with the segregation of the time, and a raucous celebration of the blues?—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knock (about).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20%28about%29. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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