knack

[ nak ]

noun

1. a special skill, talent, or aptitude:

   He had a knack for saying the right thing.

   Synonyms: aptness, dexterity, facility

2. a clever or adroit way of doing something.
3. a trick or ruse.
4. a sharp, cracking sound.
5. Archaic. a knickknack; trinket.

knack

/ næk /

noun

1. a skilful, ingenious, or resourceful way of doing something
2. a particular talent or aptitude, esp an intuitive one

Word History and Origins

Origin of knack¹

1325–75; Middle English: trick; perhaps same word as knak sharp-sounding blow, rap, cracking noise (imitative)

Word History and Origins

Origin of knack¹

C14: probably variant of knak sharp knock, rap, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Rivera has a knack for social media, which he uses to create content for events, speak out about problems in the restaurant industry, or just post pictures of delicious food and cute dogs.

From Eater

Beautiful table decor isn’t always reliant on candles, flower arrangements, or other knick knacks.

From Popular-Science

Along the way, it developed a knack for edgy destinations, among them Pakistan’s Karakoram Range, where the highlight was the literally breathtaking ascent to K2’s 16,500-foot base camp.

From Outside Online

I feel like I have a knack for speaking up for what I feel, not only the silent majority, but the forgotten Americans who come from places like where I come from.

From Ozy

The robots are not only some of the most advanced in the world, their makers just seem to have a knack for dynamite demos.

From Singularity Hub 

Brinsley was trying to produce tracks—hip-hop, mostly—and he apparently had a knack as a techie.

From The Daily Beast

In the film, Foxx is able to showcase his singing, knack for comedy and all-around versatility.

From The Daily Beast

Puck artists, like their predecessors, combined picture-making skills with a caricatural precision and a knack for lethal symbols.

From The Daily Beast

Nigel Lythgoe has a knack for resuscitating pop culture tenets that seem on their death bed.

From The Daily Beast

How did you develop this knack for inventing, and surrealism?

From The Daily Beast

There is quite a little knack in letting the hand fall so, but when you have once got it, the chord sounds much richer and fuller.

From Project Gutenberg

Hope-Jones' enthusiasm knew no bounds and he had the knack of imparting it to those who worked under him.

From Project Gutenberg

They possessed the knack of composition and were what Bobby Hargrew called fluid writers.

From Project Gutenberg

After several failures, the boys acquired the knack of making up and binding a pack.

From Project Gutenberg

It requires a good deal of knack to keep your balance while some one is pounding you with a large pillow.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aptitude
• dexterity
• flair
• genius
• ingenuity
• propensity
• quickness
• savvy
• skill