definitions

know

1
[ noh ]
/ noʊ /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR know ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), knew, known, know·ing.

verb (used without object), knew, known, know·ing.

to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as of fact or truth.
to be cognizant or aware, as of some fact, circumstance, or occurrence; have information, as about something.

noun

the fact or state of knowing; knowledge.

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RELATED WORDS

knowledgeable, learned, abreast, well-rounded, sensible, experienced, wise, conscious, brilliant, intelligent, discerning, informed, sophisticated, appreciative, perceptive, conversant, well-informed, smart, insightful, educated

Nearby words

knotty, knotty rhatany, knotweed, knotwork, knout, know, know a thing or two, know all the answers, know beans, know better, know by heart

Idioms

    in the know, possessing inside, secret, or special information.
    know the ropes, Informal. to understand or be familiar with the particulars of a subject or business: He knew the ropes better than anyone else in politics.

Origin of know

1
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 Latin (g)nōvī, Greek gignṓskein. See gnostic, can1

SYNONYMS FOR know

1 Know, comprehend, understand imply being aware of meanings. To know is to be aware of something as a fact or truth: He knows the basic facts of the subject. I know that he agrees with me. To comprehend is to know something thoroughly and to perceive its relationships to certain other ideas, facts, etc. To understand is to be fully aware not only of the meaning of something but also of its implications: I could comprehend all he said, but did not understand that he was joking.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR know ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

know·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for in the know

know

/ (nəʊ) /

verb knows, knowing, knew (njuː) or known (nəʊn) (mainly tr)

noun

in the know informal aware or informed

Derived Forms

knowable, adjectiveknower, noun

Word Origin for know

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

Idioms and Phrases with in the know (1 of 2)

in the know

Privy to special or secret information, as in Not too many people are in the know about this project. [Late 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with in the know (2 of 2)

know

In addition to the idioms beginning with know

  • know all the answers
  • know a thing or two
  • know beans
  • know better
  • know by heart
  • know by sight
  • know enough to come in out of the rain
  • know from Adam
  • know if one is coming or going
  • know it all
  • know like a book
  • know one's own mind
  • know one's place
  • know one's stuff
  • know one's way around
  • know only too well
  • know the ropes
  • know the score
  • know where one stands
  • know which side of one's bread is buttered

also see:

  • before you know it
  • (know) by heart
  • come in out of the rain, know enough to
  • coming or going, know if one's
  • for all (I know)
  • god knows
  • (know) inside out
  • in the know
  • it takes one to know one
  • left hand doesn't know what right hand is doing
  • not know beans
  • not know from Adam
  • not know where to turn
  • not know which way to jump
  • thing or two, know
  • what do you know
  • what have you (who knows what)
  • which is which, know
  • you know
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.