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Synonyms

know-how

American  
[noh-hou] / ˈnoʊˌhaʊ /

noun

  1. knowledge of how to do something; faculty or skill for a particular activity; expertise.

    Designing a computer requires a lot of know-how.
know-how British  

noun

  1. ingenuity, aptitude, or skill; knack

  2. commercial and saleable knowledge of how to do a particular thing; experience

"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

Etymology

Origin of know-how

1830–40, noun use of verb phrase know how

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.

He still has the ability; adding that to his know-how and the superb character of a man who was always highly popular with his England team-mates, I would put him in my squad.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

She sees her straight talk and government know-how as assets once voters focus.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

In the agreement, facilitated by the Iranian company Sahara Thunder, Iran sought to transfer the technology, materials, and know-how needed External link to produce a variant of its now-infamous Shahed-136 drone inside Russia.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

Moreover, the conflict is becoming more drawn out, and even if it subsides there is a risk of an instable resolution where Iranian nuclear material and know-how leaks out to hostile groups around the Gulf.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

Instead of relying solely on old-fashioned cop know-how, he introduced technological solutions like CompStat, a computerized method of addressing crime hot spots.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

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.