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Knocking Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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knocking

[ˈnɑkɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

at the door

To strike a surface or object with a sharp blow.

Synonyms

banging, pounding, rapping.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
knocking

Appropriate for general, polite knocking sounds, such as trying to get someone's attention at a door.

  • She was quietly knocking on the door, hoping someone would hear her.
  • I heard knocking in the middle of the night.
banging

Indicates a loud, forceful sound, usually created by hitting something with significant force. It often carries a sense of urgency or frustration.

  • There was a loud banging on the wall, and I wondered what was going on next door.
  • He started banging on the table to get everyone's attention.
rapping

Refers to a quick, light, and repeated tapping sound, often rhythmic. It's commonly used to describe when someone taps lightly on a hard surface.

  • He gave a quick rapping on the window to get her attention.
  • She heard rapping sounds from across the hall, like someone tapping their fingers on a desk.
pounding

Implies a very strong, repeated impact. Often used to describe a heavy, insistent sound on a door or another surface.

  • She could hear someone pounding on the door as if they were in a hurry.
  • The carpenter was pounding nails into the wood.

Examples of usage

  • She was knocking at the door impatiently.
  • I heard someone knocking on the window late at night.
Context #2 | Noun

sound

The sound of a sharp blow or rap.

Synonyms

banging, pounding, rapping.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
knocking

This is the most general term for making a noise by hitting a door, usually with your knuckles, to get someone's attention or to gain entry.

  • She heard a soft knocking on the front door.
  • Can you answer the door? Someone is knocking.
banging

This term implies making a loud, often disruptive or forceful noise. It has a slightly negative connotation and suggests impatience or urgency.

  • He started banging on the door after waiting for ten minutes.
  • There was a loud banging sound coming from the garage.
rapping

This term refers to making a series of quick, sharp knocks, often in a rhythmic pattern. It can be used in more formal or poetic contexts.

  • She gave a quick rapping on the old wooden door.
  • He heard a light rapping on his office door.
pounding

This word indicates a very forceful and often repetitive knocking that suggests seriousness or desperation. It has a somewhat intense connotation.

  • She was pounding on the door, yelling for help.
  • I woke up to the sound of someone pounding urgently on my window.

Examples of usage

  • The loud knocking on the door startled me.
  • I could hear a faint knocking coming from the attic.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Cultural Significance

  • In many cultures, knocking is a polite way to announce your presence before entering someone's space.
  • In some traditions, superstitions exist about how many times you should knock for good luck or to ward off bad spirits.

Psychology

  • The sound of knocking can create a sense of anticipation and curiosity, often increasing heart rates.
  • Research shows that people have different emotional reactions to knocks based on their past experiences with doors and visits.

Literature

  • Knocking is often used in stories as a dramatic device to introduce new characters or unexpected events.
  • In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', a knock at the door symbolizes the arrival of consequences after bad deeds.

Sound Science

  • Knocking creates vibrations in the air that your ears pick up; these are converted into sounds in your brain.
  • Different surfaces produce different sounds when knocked; for example, wood sounds different than metal.

Historical Context

  • Historically, knocking on doors has been a way to signify respect and intention, dating back to ancient civilizations.
  • In medieval times, knocking was used to signal for entry into a castle or fortification, often with a password.

Origin of 'knocking'

The word 'knocking' originated from the Middle English word 'knoken', which is of imitative origin. It is believed to have been used since the 14th century to describe the action of striking or hitting a surface. Over time, the word has evolved to encompass both the action and the sound produced by a sharp blow.

See also: knock, knockoff, knockout.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,417, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.