Browse all

knock together

B1 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To make something fast, without worrying too much about how good it looks.

Literal meaning: To hit pieces against each other until they are joined.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic informal

To build or construct something quickly and without much care, using whatever materials are available.

"He knocked together a small shed from old planks he found in the garden."

Grammar: separable
2 B1 idiomatic informal

To prepare or produce something (such as a document, meal, or plan) quickly and without much effort.

"Can you knock together a quick summary of the meeting before lunch?"

Grammar: separable
3 B2 neutral

To combine two adjacent rooms or spaces by removing the wall between them.

"They knocked together the kitchen and the dining room to create an open-plan living area."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Common in British English. Implies the result is functional but not polished. Often used with objects like shelves, a meal, or a report.

Commonly used with

shelter shelf meal report raft plan

Forms

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

Understand "knock together" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "knock together" on Looplines