as in to sip
to swallow in liquid form
desperately thirsty, she knocked back an entire glass of water without pausing
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of knock back
The Europeans in attendance were understandably impressed with the amount of bourbon the two were able to knock back.
—
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2024
His rescuers were absolutely hammered— knocking back beers, aimlessly touring the storm—but their drunken hearts were in the right place.
—Leath Tonino, Outside Online, 23 Feb. 2017
In Paris, Diana was tricked, by her husband and mine, into knocking back a wineglass that had a dead fly in it.
—Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2024
But later, Chiles' score was knocked back down when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled her appeal was submitted four seconds too late.
—Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knock back 
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 20 Dec. 2024
His rescuers were absolutely hammered— knocking back beers, aimlessly touring the storm—but their drunken hearts were in the right place.
—Leath Tonino, Outside Online, 23 Feb. 2017
In Paris, Diana was tricked, by her husband and mine, into knocking back a wineglass that had a dead fly in it.
—Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2024
But later, Chiles' score was knocked back down when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled her appeal was submitted four seconds too late.
—Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knock back
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knock back
Verb
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The hint of herb flavor is subtle in each version (but strongest in the Blackberry Sage Lemonade Refresher) but is flavorful enough to turn the berry drinks from a summertime sip into a cold weather option.—
Sabrina Weiss,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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The trailer features Drake in a trance while posted up in the corner of a speakeasy, sipping on a drink as he’s surrounded by chatty women not paying him any mind.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Baltimore area is seeing changes in its food and drink scene with Fuzzies Burgers partnering with Atlas Restaurant Group, Lost Ark Distilling ending its eight years in business and GameOn in Federal Hill closing in March.—
Matt Hubbard,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Feb. 2025
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Related article Is drinking alcohol bad for your health?—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In a state of unimaginable desperation, Islam and his family would also turn to water, gulping it in desperate attempts to fill their stomachs.—
Daphne Ewing-Chow,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
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But being exposed to an ambient, low-level dose of germs is very different from gulping down a concentrated slug of them.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
TIME,
20 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near knock back
Cite this Entry
“Knock back.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knock%20back. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
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