know-how
Americannoun
noun
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ingenuity, aptitude, or skill; knack
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commercial and saleable knowledge of how to do a particular thing; experience
Etymology
Origin of know-how
1830–40, noun use of verb phrase know how
Explanation
Know-how is the knowledge and skill needed to complete a task. Mechanics have a lot of know-how when it comes to cars. This folksy word pretty much defines itself: when you have know-how, you know how to do something. People pick up know-how in many ways. In school, you can gain know-how, especially in classes that are very practical. The best way to get know-how is through experience. For example, teachers may learn about teaching in school, but they won't have a lot of know-how till they've spent a few years in front of a class of students.
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.
Switzerland have got some exciting young players to go with the know-how of Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
It takes a lot of know-how to puppet and train a robot, he said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026
The implication was clear: farming know-how had been imported into the “waterworld” hunter-gatherer communities by women.
From Science Daily • May 30, 2026
Some of the startups are now turning their know-how to other kinds of immediate needs.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
I'd been raised with the impression that it took a certain amount of know-how to get by in New York, but a surprising number of our customers proved me wrong.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
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.
