know
verb (used with object)
to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty.
had known
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past perfectof know.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The inquiry has heard from a doctor who said he would have advised against operating on Michael if he had known, from the child's medical records, about an inherited heart condition.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The scammers had known they were traveling to Mexico, as well as many other details about the family.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
I wanted to find out if the conspiracy theory’s originator had known what they were doing, if they now felt delight at the heights their creation had reached.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
The nation he toured had more than doubled in size from the one he had known in his youth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
I had known boys who were unpredictable and short-tempered, who roared through life like a whirlwind and never once looked back.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
