make someone unconscious
The boxer knocked his opponent out in the second round.
knock out — 3 meanings
Same words, different jobs. Compare the meanings side by side so you know which one fits the situation.
phrasal verb3 meanings
knock outsame phrase
Which one do you mean?
eliminate from a competition
Our team was knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals.
impress greatly
The performance absolutely knocked me out—it was breathtaking from start to finish.
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Meanings in detail
1. make someone unconscious
B1neutralboth
To hit someone so hard that they become unconscious, or to cause someone to become unconscious for a short time.
The boxer knocked his opponent out in the second round.
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Sign in to unlock2. eliminate from a competition
B2neutralboth
To defeat someone so that they can no longer continue in a competition or tournament.
Our team was knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals.
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Sign in to unlock3. impress greatly
C1informalspoken
To amaze or impress someone very much, often by being unexpectedly good, beautiful, or effective.
The performance absolutely knocked me out—it was breathtaking from start to finish.
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