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."
separable
knock together
B1 informal separable transitive
To build or assemble something quickly and roughly, often with basic materials.
In plain English
To make something fast, without worrying too much about how good it looks.
What does "knock together" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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?"
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."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hit pieces against each other until they are joined.
Actually means
To make something fast, without worrying too much about how good it looks.
Usage tip
Common in British English. Implies the result is functional but not polished. Often used with objects like shelves, a meal, or a report.
Words that pair with "knock together"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
shelter shelf meal report raft plan
How to conjugate "knock together"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "knock together" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "knock together" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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