K.O. en
en
Change language
Translating...
/ˌkeɪ ˈoʊ/
Add to My Dictionary
In My Dictionary
+1
A decisive victory in combat sports where a competitor is rendered unconscious, and by extension any situation where someone or something is completely overwhelmed.
Examples The underdog achieved a K.O. in the final round, shocking everyone.
The new policy caused a K.O. for the opposition, ending the debate quickly.
The boxer delivered a perfect hook and scored a K.O. .
After the surprise punch, the referee counted to ten and declared a K.O. .
His witty comeback was a verbal K.O. , leaving the audience speechless.
Similar words stoppage
knockout
finish
KO
knock‑out
stop
Meanings Examples The boxer delivered a perfect hook and scored a K.O. .
After the surprise punch, the referee counted to ten and declared a K.O. .
The underdog achieved a K.O. in the final round, shocking everyone.
His witty comeback was a verbal K.O. , leaving the audience speechless.
The new policy caused a K.O. for the opposition, ending the debate quickly.
Similar words knockout
knock‑out
KO
finish
stop
stoppage
Etymology From the phrase “knock out”, shortened to the initials K and O and first recorded in boxing reports of the early 1900s.
FAQ What does K.O. stand for?
It stands for “knock out”, the term used for a fight‑ending knockout.
It is pronounced as the letters K and O, /ˌkeɪ ˈoʊ/.
When should I use K.O. in a sentence?
Use it to describe a knockout result in combat sports or a figurative overwhelming defeat.
Is K.O. used only in boxing?
While it originated in boxing, it is also common in mixed martial arts, kickboxing and other combat sports.
Can K.O. be written without periods?
The standard form includes periods; writing it as “KO” is considered informal and may be seen as incorrect.
What is the difference between K.O. and TKO?
K.O. means a knockout where the opponent is unconscious, whereas TKO (technical knockout) is declared when a referee stops the fight for safety.
Comments & contributions Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.
No comments yet. Be the first to add one.