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knock down

A2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To make something fall down, to destroy a building, or to lower a price.

Literal meaning: To knock something so that it falls down.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To hit someone or something so that it falls to the ground.

"The car ran a red light and knocked down a cyclist who had no time to react."

Grammar: separable
2 A2 neutral

To demolish or destroy a building, wall, or structure.

"They knocked down the old factory to build a shopping centre."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To reduce a price, especially in negotiation.

"After some negotiation, the seller knocked the price down by two hundred euros."

Grammar: separable
4 B1 neutral

In boxing or fighting: to cause an opponent to fall to the floor with a blow.

"The champion knocked his opponent down in the third round but couldn't secure the knockout."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Very common phrasal verb with multiple distinct senses. In commerce, 'knock down' a price means to reduce it, often in negotiation. In boxing, it means to cause an opponent to fall. At auctions, the auctioneer 'knocks down' an item to the winning bidder. Very versatile.

Commonly used with

price building wall door opponent pedestrian barrier

Forms

Base
knock down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
knocks down
he/she/it
Past simple
knocked down
yesterday
Past participle
knocked down
have + pp
-ing form
knocking down
continuous

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Synonyms

demolish flatten topple reduce lower hit down

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