knock-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈnäk-ˌəp How to pronounce knock-up (audio)
Synonyms of knock-upnext
British
: a warm-up or practice session before a game in a racket sport (such as tennis)

knock up

2 of 2

verb

knocked up; knocking up; knocks up

transitive verb

1
informal + impolite : to make pregnant
2
British : rouse, summon

Synonyms of knock-up

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Verb

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Examples of knock-up in a Sentence

Verb I asked the clerk at the hotel to knock me up at 7:00 a.m.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
In a wacky twist of fate, both of them get knocked up at the same time! — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026 Julia, worried, maintains that she’s not knocked up. — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025 The pair collided with such force that Dumoulin got knocked up about two feet in the air before landing hard on his padded backside. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 27 Apr. 2026 Elle Fanning stars as Margo, a young college student who gets knocked up by one of her professors and decides to move back home and have the baby. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for knock-up

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1884, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of knock-up was in 1592

Rhymes for knock-up

See All Rhymes for knock-up

Browse Nearby Words

knock under
knock-up
knock up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Knock-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knock-up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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