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know
1[noh]
verb (used with object)
to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty.
I know the situation fully.
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?
to be cognizant or aware of.
I know it.
be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report.
to know the mayor.
to understand from experience or attainment (usually followed by how before an infinitive).
to know how to make gingerbread.
to be able to distinguish, as one from another.
to know right from wrong.
Archaic., to have sexual intercourse with.
verb (used without object)
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.
know
2[noh, nou]
noun
know
/ nəʊ /
verb
(also intr; may take a clause as object) to be or feel certain of the truth or accuracy of (a fact, etc)
to be acquainted or familiar with
she's known him five years
to have a familiarity or grasp of, as through study or experience
he knows French
(also intr; may take a clause as object) to understand, be aware of, or perceive (facts, etc)
he knows the answer now
(foll by how) to be sure or aware of (how to be or do something)
to experience, esp deeply
to know poverty
to be intelligent, informed, or sensible enough (to do something)
she knew not to go home yet
(may take a clause as object) to be able to distinguish or discriminate
archaic, to have sexual intercourse with
I have an idea
to know how one thing or things in general work
informal, a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis to a statement
things are uncertain
noun
informal, aware or informed
Other Word Forms
- knower noun
- knowable adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of know1
Idioms and Phrases
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.
in the know, possessing inside, secret, or special information.
More idioms and phrases containing know
- (know) by heart
- (know) inside out
- before you know it
- come in out of the rain, know enough to
- coming or going, know if one's
- for all (I know)
- god knows
- 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
Example Sentences
“We wanted to let you all know before anybody was able to. We learned that lesson I guess in the past about our relationship: We want to be the first to talk about it.”
A resident reportedly spied a man descending into a manhole on Saturday afternoon and knew something unusual was up.
That protection against what is known as "double jeopardy" is a basic legal principle that has existed for 800 years.
“Unfortunately, some semi-automatic firearms feature a dangerous design element allowing them to be converted to automatic weapons through the attachment of an easy-to-use device known as a switch.”
“I said, ‘Wait a minute, is that the same Charlie that I know?
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Related Words
When To Use
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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