know

¹

[ noh ]

verb (used with object)

, knew, known, know·ing.

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, know·ing.

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 ¹.

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 know what
    I have an idea
11. know what's what
    to know how one thing or things in general work
12. you know informal.
    a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis to a statement
13. you never know
    things are uncertain

noun

1. in the know informal.
   aware or informed

Derived Forms

• ˈknowable, adjective
• ˈknower, noun

Other Words From

• knower 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. in the know, possessing inside, secret, or special information.
2. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing know

• 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

Example Sentences

“Even if it’s biometric data or health data, a lot of the companies are just sharing that data without you knowing, and that is causing a lot of anxiety and questions.”

From Los Angeles Times

Adams Kellum said she welcomed the audit to see if the agency is “on the right track for system improvement that we’ve already put in place, and to further let us know what’s missing.”

From Los Angeles Times

Newman argued there still needed to be "clarity" about whether the civil service knew of certain donations before appointing Sargeant, Middleton and Corfield.

From BBC

Though there are flourishes of new material, disciples of composer Stephen Schwartz’s songs can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the changes are minor but welcome.

From Salon

John Boozman, Arkansas Republican and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, echoed this point on X, formerly known as Twitter.

From Salon

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.