bonk

Everyday

1. (informal) To hit someone or something lightly, often on the head. tree →
2. (informal) A light hit or the sound it makes. tree →
3. (rude slang) To have sex with someone; adults use it as a crude joke word. tree →
4. (informal, sport) To «bonk» or «hit the wall»: to suddenly run out of energy in a long race. tree →

In the lessons

In children's books and cartoons, «bonk» is a funny sound word for a light knock on the head. Among adults it can be a rude slang word, so be careful. In sport, cyclists and runners say they «bonked» when they ran out of energy.

Examples

• The ball bonked him on the head. tree →
• Bonk! The toy fell off the shelf. tree →
• She bonked her head on the low door. tree →
• The cyclist bonked halfway up the hill. tree →
• Don't bonk your brother with the pillow. tree →
• I heard a loud bonk from the kitchen. tree →

Note

The rude sense (3) is mainly UK/Australian slang; avoid it in school. The cartoon sense is fine. Similar: bump, knock, bop.