know

¹

[noh]

verb (used with object)

knew, known, knowing. 

1. to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty.

   I know the situation fully.

2. 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?

3. to be cognizant or aware of.

   I know it.

4. be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report.

   to know the mayor.

5. to understand from experience or attainment (usually followed by how before an infinitive).

   to know how to make gingerbread.

6. to be able to distinguish, as one from another.

   to know right from wrong.

7. Archaic.,  to have sexual intercourse with.

verb (used without object)

knew, known, knowing. 

1. to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as of fact or truth.

2. to be cognizant or aware, as of some fact, circumstance, or occurrence; have information, as about something.

noun

1. the fact or state of knowing; knowledge.

know

²

[noh, nou]

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. knoll.

know

/ nəʊ /

verb

1. (also intr; may take a clause as object) to be or feel certain of the truth or accuracy of (a fact, etc)

2. to be acquainted or familiar with

   she's known him five years

3. to have a familiarity or grasp of, as through study or experience

   he knows French

4. (also intr; may take a clause as object) to understand, be aware of, or perceive (facts, etc)

   he knows the answer now

5. (foll by how) to be sure or aware of (how to be or do something)

6. to experience, esp deeply

   to know poverty

7. to be intelligent, informed, or sensible enough (to do something)

   she knew not to go home yet

8. (may take a clause as object) to be able to distinguish or discriminate

9. archaic,  to have sexual intercourse with

10. I have an idea

11. to know how one thing or things in general work

12. informal,  a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis to a statement

13. things are uncertain

noun

1. informal,  aware or informed

Other Word Forms

• knowable adjective
• knower noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of know¹

First recorded 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 Greek gignṓskein, Latin (g)nōscere, Sanskrit jñātá “known”; can ¹, gnostic

Word History and Origins

Origin of know¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. 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

No names or personal information are exchanged but the dealer has a few questions about how we got his information, "So I know you're not police".

From BBC

The timing coincides with the rollout of a new "national messenger" app known as Max and created by a Russian firm closely controlled by the Kremlin.

From BBC

Remembering my conversation with Hopper while watching his sentencing on Thursday, it was clear that as a journalist you never quite know where a story will take you.

From BBC

It’s the largest settlement known for a copyright case, signaling to other tech companies facing copyright infringement allegations that they might have to pay rights holders eventually as well.

From Los Angeles Times

Carpenter worked with Bompastor during three of the Frenchwoman's five years at Lyon so they knew each other well before she arrived in London.

From BBC

Related Words

• appreciate 
• experience 
• have 
• learn 
• notice 
• perceive 
• realize 
• recognize 
• see 

When To Use

What are other ways to say know?

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.