knit

knit — verb

1. to make an item of clothing or fabric by looping yarn with two long sticks or fa

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to make an item of clothing or fabric by looping yarn with two long sticks or factory equipment

Example

Christopher is knitting a sweater for his baby niece.

knit + object + for + recipient

Noor learned to knit when she was seven years old.

intransitive: learn to knit

Common collocations
  • knit a sweater
  • knit a scarf
  • knit a blanket
  • knit a hat
  • knit by hand
  • knit by machine
  • learn to knit
  • knit someone something
Synonyms
  • crochet

    uses a single hooked tool instead of two needles, producing a different type of fabric

  • weave

    involves crossing threads over and under each other on a loom, not looping them

Grammar Patterns

knit + object (sweater, scarf, blanket)

knit + indirect object + direct object

knit + for + person

Usage Note

Frequently used with an object that names the item being made (sweater, scarf, blanket), or intransitively when describing the activity. The double-object structure (knit someone something) is common in British English.

Common Mistakes

She is knitting a wool.
She is knitting a sweater.
the object must be the item being made, not the material. Use 'knit with wool' for the material.

2. to do the simplest and most common stitch in knitting, in which the thread is pu

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to do the simplest and most common stitch in knitting, in which the thread is pulled through the loop from front to back, creating a smooth V-shaped pattern

Example

The pattern says to knit two stitches and then purl two stitches for the border.

knit vs purl contrast

Yuki knitted the first ten rows slowly to make sure the tension was even.

knit + number of rows

Common collocations
  • knit one row
  • knit a stitch
  • knit and purl
  • knit stitch
Synonyms
  • plain stitch

    another name for the basic knit stitch, especially in older patterns

  • garter stitch

    the fabric produced by knitting every row — not a single stitch but the pattern of repeated knit stitches

Antonyms
  • purl

    the opposite stitch that creates a bumpy surface instead of a smooth V

Grammar Patterns

knit + number of stitches

knit + row(s)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to the specific stitch technique (knit stitch) rather than the activity of making an item. Usually appears in patterns and instructional contexts.

Common Mistakes

Knit two stitches together' (when meaning 'do the knit stitch on two stitches').
Knit two stitches, then purl two stitches.
'knit two together' (k2tog) is actually a decreasing technique, not a basic stitch instruction.

3. to join or grow together into one connected piece; to connect things firmly — us

3.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to join or grow together into one connected piece; to connect things firmly — used especially for broken bones healing, wound edges closing, or separate parts being combined into a whole

Example

The broken bone in Pedro's arm knit together in just six weeks.

intransitive: bone knits together

The edges of the wound will knit naturally if kept clean and dry.

wound edges knit

Common collocations
  • knit together
  • bone knits
  • wound knits
  • knit into a whole
Synonyms
  • fuse

    stronger, more permanent joining, often through melting or heat; more technical in medical contexts

  • mend

    focuses on repairing something broken; used more broadly than knit

  • heal

    refers specifically to recovery from injury, not mechanical joining

Antonyms
  • separate

    to break or split apart things that were joined

  • fracture

    specifically for breaking bones apart

Grammar Patterns

knit together

knit + object + together

Usage Note

When referring to bones or wounds, most often used intransitively with 'together'. The metaphorical use (ideas, stories, elements combining) is common in literature and formal speech.

Common Mistakes

The doctor knit the bone.
The bone knit by itself over time.
bones knit naturally; a doctor sets the bone so it can heal correctly.

4. to bring people or groups into a close relationship where they support one anoth

4.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to bring people or groups into a close relationship where they support one another — often used in the form close-knit to describe a community, family, or team that is tightly bonded

Example

The small mountain village had a close-knit community that looked after every family.

close-knit community

Shared hardship knit the group of strangers into lifelong friends.

transitive: hardship knits people into something

Common collocations
  • close-knit community
  • close-knit family
  • knit together
  • knit into a group
  • tightly knit
Synonyms
  • bond

    more general; can describe emotional connection between two people or groups

  • unite

    broader in scope; can refer to political, social, or physical joining

  • bind

    suggests a strong, often duty-based connection

Antonyms
  • divide

    to cause separation between people or groups

  • split

    to break apart a group or relationship

Grammar Patterns

be knit together (passive)

knit + group + together

close-knit (as adjective)

Usage Note

Most commonly appears in the compound adjective form 'close-knit'. When used as a verb, often takes the passive structure 'be knit together by [shared experience, bond]'. Not used in literal knitting contexts.

Common Mistakes

They knit each other.
They were knit together by shared experiences.' or 'They are a close-knit group.
the verb needs a linking element or the compound adjective form.

5. to pull your eyebrows together tightly, creating wrinkles on your forehead that

5.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to pull your eyebrows together tightly, creating wrinkles on your forehead that reveal concentration, confusion, or irritation

Example

Eshe knit her brows as she read the difficult chemistry question.

knit + one's brows + reason

The old man knit his brow and stared at the strange letter in his hands.

knit + one's brow (singular)

Common collocations
  • knit one's brows
  • knit one's brow
  • knit her brows
  • knit his brow
Synonyms
  • frown

    a more general facial expression; involves the mouth as well as the brows

  • scowl

    a stronger, angrier expression than knit one's brows

Antonyms
  • relax one's face

    to let the forehead smooth out and the brows return to a neutral position

Grammar Patterns

knit + one's brows

knit + one's brow

Usage Note

Almost always used with a possessive determiner before 'brows' or 'brow' (knit one's brows, knit his brow, knit her brows). Both singular 'brow' and plural 'brows' are common. This is a fixed expression — you cannot 'knit eyebrows' without a possessive.

Common Mistakes

She knit her eyebrows together.
She knit her brows.
'knit one's brows' is the standard idiom; adding 'together' or using 'eyebrows' is less natural.
Phrasal verbs

knit together

phrasal verb

to combine separate ideas, styles, or elements so that they form a single, connected whole

The designer knit together traditional patterns with modern styles to create something fresh.

Lakshmi's speech knit together three different arguments into one clear message.

Idioms

knit your brow(s)

idiom

To bring your eyebrows together to show you are thinking deeply or feeling annoyed.

Mia knitted her brows when she saw the confusing math problem.

Did you see Dad knit his brows during the meeting?

knit — noun

knit — adjective

Word family

  • knitter
    nounB1
  • knitting
    nounB1
  • knitwear
    nounB2
  • close-knit
    adjectiveB2
  • hand-knit
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Knit, crochet, weave, and sew are all ways of making fabric or clothing, but they use different techniques. Knit uses two needles to loop a single continuous strand of yarn into rows of V-shaped stitches — think of a winter sweater or scarf. Crochet uses one hooked needle to create loops and knots, producing a thicker, more textured fabric often used for lace, doilies, or stuffed toys. Weave crosses two sets of threads (warp and weft) over and under each other on a loom, creating flat fabric like that used for shirts or tablecloths. Sew joins pre-made pieces of fabric together with a needle and thread — it does not make fabric from yarn. For example: 'She learned to knit from her grandmother and made a scarf' vs. 'She crocheted a tiny hat for the baby doll' vs. 'The artist wove a tapestry on a large wooden loom' vs. 'She sewed a button back onto her coat.'

knit ↗crochetweave ↗sew

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

The word knit comes from Old English cnyttan, meaning 'to tie in a knot or fasten by tying.' It is related to Old High German chnutan ('to tie') and Old Norse knýta ('to tie in knots'). The sense of making fabric by looping yarn with needles appeared in the early 1500s, and the metaphorical meaning 'to unite closely' developed in the 1600s. The expression 'knit one's brow' (to frown) dates back to the early 1700s.