Know

/nəʊ/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive) To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of; to be certain that..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of; to be certain that.
2. (intransitive) To be or become aware or cognizant.
3. (transitive) To be aware of; to be cognizant of.
4. (intransitive, obsolete) To be acquainted (with another person).
5. (transitive) To be acquainted or familiar with; to have encountered.
6. (transitive) To experience.
7. To understand or have a grasp of through experience or study.
8. (transitive) To be able to distinguish, to discern, particularly by contrast or comparison; to recognize the nature of.

Example Sentences

I know that I’m right and you’re wrong.

He knew something terrible was going to happen.

Question things. I have the most fun when I'm writing questioning things that people do not question- the assumptions that everybody knows are true.

'[…] I know whether a boy is telling me the truth or not.' 'Thank you, sir.' Did he hell. They never bloody did.

Did you know Michelle and Jack were getting divorced? ― Yes, I knew.

Malware's sometimes been known to sit dormant for a long time.

‘A Gentleman!’ quoth the Squire, ‘who the Devil can he be? Do, Doctor, go down and ſee who ’tis. Mr. Blifil can hardly be come to town yet.—Go down, do, and know what his Buſineſs is.[’]

She knows where I live.

Synonyms for know

Antonyms for know

Related Words

Word Forms

• knows
• knowing
• knew
• knowed
• known
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• know
• knowest
• knewest
• knoweth
• -
• knaa
• knowe

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions