know Hear it!

know Definition

know (nō)

transitive verb knew, known, know′·ing

  1. to have a clear perception or understanding of; be sure of or well informed about to know the facts
  2. to be aware or cognizant of; have perceived or learned to know that one is loved
  3. to have a firm mental grasp of; have securely in the memory to know the multiplication tables
    1. to be acquainted or familiar with I knew him well
    2. to experience she has known both pleasure and pain
  5. to have understanding of or skill in as a result of study or experience to know music
  6. to recognize I'd know that face anywhere
  7. to recognize as distinct; distinguish to know right from wrong
  8. Archaic to have sexual intercourse with

Etymology: ME knowen < OE cnawan, akin to OHG -cnāhan < IE base *ĝen-, *ĝnō-, to know, apprehend > can, ken, L gnoscere, to know, Gr gignōskein

intransitive verb

  1. to have knowledge
  2. to be sure, informed, or aware

know Related Forms

know′·able adjective know′er noun

know Idioms

in the know

Informal having confidential information

know better

to be aware that one could or should act better or think more correctly

know best

to be the best guide, authority, etc.

know from

☆

you know

☆

Informal you understand: a phrase used in conversational pauses

know Synonyms

know

v.

  1. To possess information

    be aware of, be cognizant of, be acquainted with, be informed, be in possession of the facts, have knowledge of, be schooled in, be read in, be learned in, be versed in, be conversant with, be familiar with, appreciate, prize, ken, recognize, be sensible of, know full well, be sure of, have at one's fingertips, be master of, have a grasp of, know by heart, know inside and out, know by rote, remember, be instructed, be awake to, keep up on, have information about, know what's what, know all the answers, have someone's number*, have the jump on*, have down cold*, have the goods on*, be hep to*, know one's stuff*, know the score*, know the ropes*.

    Antonyms be oblivious of, be ignorant of, misunderstand.

  2. To understand

    comprehend, apprehend, grasp, see into; see understand 1.

  3. To recognize

    perceive, discern, distinguish, identify, be familiar with, have the friendship of, acknowledge, be accustomed to, associate with, be acquainted with; see also associate 1.

in the know*

informed, knowing, aware, privy; see conscious 1, educated 1, knowledgeable.

know Usage Examples

Object

  • nothing: These were from the family of Hans Fischer who knew nothing about what became of him.
  • anything: A lot of people don't know anything about their history, but it is important to know about your history.
  • someone: But you knew someone would come along and beat him.
  • something: Do the FBI know something the entire world's media organizations don't?
  • answer: Excel: Hiding Cell Contents There are times when you need to know the answer but don't want anyone else to see it.
  • everything: I know well enough that I do not know everything.

Adjective complement

  • more: Mums know more than anyone how quickly their children grow up.
  • less: They knew even less about the National Socialist German Workers Party or its political program.
  • little: He appeared to know very little about Mr Gordon, and had taken up no references.
  • good: Prepare a range of poems, then pick the question that lets you write on those you know best.
  • full: In fact, Stalin knew full well that the Poles would not be willing to see Nazi control of Poland replaced by Soviet control.

Modifying Another Word

well: Here is produced the well known " Pease's West " coke.

Used with why or when

  • what: How will I know what is expected of me?
  • where: We simply do not yet know where most of our bats go in winter!
  • who: Now I educate everyone I know who has a dog.
  • why: He called me Badger, I never knew why.
  • which: I know which way I think looks like being the best approach.
  • when: Note that there is a lot of " give " here, and we let clients know when rush rates apply.

Infinitive complement

have: King Henry III is known to have donated new choir stalls to the abbey in 1232 and other timber in 1236.

Preposition: in

parlance: This willingness to wait for a consensus to emerge is known in theological parlance as ' the process of reception ' .

Browse dictionary entries near know

  1. ‹ knout
  2. ‹ knotty pine
  3. ‹ knotty
  4. ‹ knotting
  5. ‹ knotter
  6. ‹ knotted
  7. ‹ knothole
  8. ‹ knotgrass
  9. ‹ knot
  10. ‹ Knossos
  1. know-how ›
  2. know-it-all ›
  3. know-nothing ›
  4. knowable ›
  5. knowing ›
  6. knowingly ›
  7. knowledge ›
  8. knowledge management ›
  9. knowledgeable ›
  10. known ›