Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell doorknob

Doorknob is spelled D-O-O-R-K-N-O-B. The part people get wrong: double O.

hear itdoor·knob/d'urnɑb/nounSilent and tricky

What it means: A round handle used to open a door.

In a sentence: I turned the shiny doorknob to open the door.

The part people get wrong

Watch for double o.

Same family: door, knob, doorway, doorstep, doorbell. If you can spell one, the shared part carries to the others.

Where it comes from: “Doorknob” is a simple compound word formed from “door” and “knob.” The word “knob” comes from Middle English and probably Germanic roots meaning a small lump or rounded projection, which is why we also use it for things like radio knobs and stove knobs.

Try spelling it

You will hear the word and a sentence. Type it and press Enter. Then four more words from the same level, so you know where you stand.

Words like this

Everyone has words they always get wrong. Spelling.School finds yours, shows you exactly why you miss them, and uses spaced repetition until you spell them right every time. Five minutes a day. Try five words without signing up.