Spelling.School · How to spell

How to spell doorknob

hear itdoor·knob/'doʊr,nɑb/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. Often misspelled as door knob or dorknob.

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.

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