English · Word Candidate

knocking

/ˈnɑkɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: knockings

Sense 1

Meaning · English

An act in which something is knocked on, or the sound thus produced

Noun

These strange openings and closings and knockings were warnings and reminders from the spirits who attend the dying.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

A repetitive ping, knock, or similar sound coming from an engine in which there are repeated uncontrolled explosions in the combustion chamber.

Noun

Sir―I was greatly interested in a short article in The Motor Cycle on the subject of engine knocking.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “knocking” mean?

An act in which something is knocked on, or the sound thus produced

Is “knocking” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.