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know definition

know (nō)

transitive verb knew, known, knowing 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

Related Forms:

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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms know idiom

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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

know Usage Examples

Object

  • anything: A lot of people don't know anything about their history, but it is important to know about your history.

Adjective complement

  • more: Mums know more than anyone how quickly their children grow up.

Used with why or when

  • what: How will I know what is expected of me?
know usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

know quotes

I don't know very much, but what I do know I know better than anybody, and I don't want to argue about it. I know what I think about an actor or an actress, and am not interested in what anybody else thinks. My mind is not a bed to be made and re-made.

-Agate,James

Il n'existe que trois e"  tres respectables: le pre"  tre, le guerrier, le poe'  te. Savoir, tuer et cre¤  er. There are only three respectable beings: priest, warrior, poet. To know, to kill and to create.

-Baudelaire, Charles

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

-Bible (Old Testament)

know quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"know." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/know>

APA Style

know. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/know

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