knock down

phrasal verb·4 senses·particle down

Meanings

1

Strike to the ground; demolish

Losinguncommon

Why “down”? A structure, a system, or someone's mood can go down when it fails.

“The boxer knocked his opponent down.”
The boxer struck his opponent and sent him to the floor.
“The storm knocked several trees down.”
The storm struck several trees so they fell.
2

Hit someone or something so it falls

Downward

Why “down”? Movement goes from high to low.

“He was knocked down by a car.”
He was hit by a car and fell.
“A cyclist knocked the boy down.”
A cyclist hit the boy and made him fall.
3

Demolish a building or wall

Downward
“They knocked down the old hospital.”
They demolished the old hospital.
“Workers knocked down the brick wall.”
Workers demolished the brick wall.
4

Persuade a seller to lower the price

Lessuncommon

Why “down”? When there is less of something, it goes down. Prices, sound, heat and speed all work this way.

“He knocked the price down by ten percent.”
He persuaded the seller to lower the price by ten percent.
“She knocked the rent down by fifty pounds.”
She persuaded the owner to lower the rent by fifty pounds.

Don't confuse with

knock downknock out

Knock down means strike to the ground or demolish. Knock out means hit someone unconscious.

Test yourself

“The boxer knocked his opponent down.” What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.

knock out

A contrast learners often mix up

Hit someone unconscious

back down

Same down pattern: losing

Withdraw from a position

bear down

Same down pattern: downward

Move quickly and threateningly toward someone

beat down

Same down pattern: downward

(of sun or rain) fall strongly and steadily

bend down

Same down pattern: downward

Lean the upper body downward

blow down

Same down pattern: downward

Cause something to fall by blowing

break down

Same down pattern: losing

(of a vehicle or machine) stop working; Lose emotional control and start crying; Separate something into smaller parts to understand it; (of negotiations or relationships) fail or end; Force a door open by hitting it; Decompose into simpler chemical substances

bring down

Same down pattern: downward

Cause something to fall or land; Make something lower in level or amount; Cause a government or leader to lose power; Make someone feel sad or depressed

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