Know Definition

knew, knowing, known, knows
verb
knew, knowing, known, knows
To have a clear perception or understanding of; be sure of or well informed about.
To know the facts.
Webster's New World
To perceive directly; grasp in the mind with clarity or certainty.
American Heritage
To regard as true beyond doubt.
I know she won't fail.
American Heritage
To be sure, informed, or aware.
Webster's New World
To have a firm mental grasp of; have securely in the memory.
To know the multiplication tables.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
Wiktionary
idiom
know (someone) in the biblical sense
  • To have sexual relations with (someone).
American Heritage
in the know
  • Possessing special or secret information.
American Heritage
you know
  • Used parenthetically in conversation, as to fill pauses or educe the listener's agreement or sympathy:

    Please try to be, you know, a little quieter. How were we supposed to make camp in a storm like that, you know?

American Heritage
in the know
  • having confidential information
Webster's New World
know better
  • to be aware that one could or should act better or think more correctly
Webster's New World

Origin of Know

  • from Indo-European: Latin cognoscō (Spanish conocer, French connaître, Italian conoscere, Portuguese conhecer), Ancient Greek γνωρίζω (gnōrizō, “I know”) and γνῶσις (gnōsis, “knowledge”), Albanian njoh (“I know, recognise”), and Persian شناختن (šenāxtæn, “to know”).

    From Wiktionary

  • from Proto-Germanic: Old High German knājan (“to know, recognise”), Old Norse knā (“to know how”), Dutch and German kennen, West Frisian kenne

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English knouen from Old English cnāwan gnō- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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