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View synonyms for know

know

1

[noh]

verb (used with object)

knew, known, knowing. 
  1. to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty.

    I know the situation fully.

  2. to have established or fixed in the mind or memory.

    to know a poem by heart; Do you know the way to the park from here?

  3. to be cognizant or aware of.

    I know it.

  4. be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report.

    to know the mayor.

  5. to understand from experience or attainment (usually followed by how before an infinitive).

    to know how to make gingerbread.

  6. to be able to distinguish, as one from another.

    to know right from wrong.

  7. Archaic.,  to have sexual intercourse with.



verb (used without object)

knew, known, knowing. 
  1. to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as of fact or truth.

  2. to be cognizant or aware, as of some fact, circumstance, or occurrence; have information, as about something.

noun

  1. the fact or state of knowing; knowledge.

know

2

[noh, nou]

noun

Scot. and North England.
  1. knoll.

know

/ nəʊ /

verb

  1. (also intr; may take a clause as object) to be or feel certain of the truth or accuracy of (a fact, etc)

  2. to be acquainted or familiar with

    she's known him five years

  3. to have a familiarity or grasp of, as through study or experience

    he knows French

  4. (also intr; may take a clause as object) to understand, be aware of, or perceive (facts, etc)

    he knows the answer now

  5. (foll by how) to be sure or aware of (how to be or do something)

  6. to experience, esp deeply

    to know poverty

  7. to be intelligent, informed, or sensible enough (to do something)

    she knew not to go home yet

  8. (may take a clause as object) to be able to distinguish or discriminate

  9. archaic,  to have sexual intercourse with

  10. I have an idea

  11. to know how one thing or things in general work

  12. informal,  a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis to a statement

  13. things are uncertain

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. informal,  aware or informed

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • knowable adjective
  • knower noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of know1

First recorded before 900; Middle English knowen, knawen, Old English gecnāwan; cognate with Old High German -cnāhan, Old Norse knā “to know how, be able to”; akin to Greek gignṓskein, Latin (g)nōscere, Sanskrit jñātá “known”; can 1, gnostic
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Word History and Origins

Origin of know1

Old English gecnāwan; related to Old Norse knā I can, Latin noscere to come to know
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. know the ropes, to understand or be familiar with the particulars of a subject or business.

    He knew the ropes better than anyone else in politics.

  2. in the know, possessing inside, secret, or special information.

More idioms and phrases containing know

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Once known as the Festival of Festivals, the annual showcase of new work from around the globe remains a vital stop on the awards-season calendar.

Duguay said she never received an email informing her of the closure and knows of members who paid their annual fees just days before the announcement was made.

Saturday's incident has resulted in a string of closures in the popular area known as the Northern Beaches.

From BBC

No names or personal information are exchanged but the dealer has a few questions about how we got his information, "So I know you're not police".

From BBC

The timing coincides with the rollout of a new "national messenger" app known as Max and created by a Russian firm closely controlled by the Kremlin.

From BBC

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Related Words

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When To Use

What are other ways to say know?

To know something is to perceive or understand it as fact or truth. When should you use this verb over understand or comprehend? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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