English Dictionary

Definition of “know”

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know (nəʊPronunciation for know) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms: knows, knowing, knew, njuː, known, nəʊn
(mainly tr)
  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. See I know what
  11. See know what's what
  12. See you know
  13. See you never know

noun

  1. See in the know

Alternative Forms

ˈknowable adjective ˈknower noun

Word Origin

Old English gecnāwan;  related to Old Norse knā  I can, Latin noscere to come to know

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= have knowledge of see, understand, recognize, perceive, be aware of be conscious of
= be acquainted with recognize, associate with be familiar with be friends with be friendly with have knowledge of have dealings with socialize with fraternize with be pals with
= be familiar with experience, understand, ken, comprehend, fathom, apprehend, have knowledge of be acquainted with feel certain of have dealings in be versed in
= recognize, remember, identify, recall, place, spot, notice, distinguish, perceive, make out, discern, differentiate, recollect,

Quotations

  • "To really know someone is to have loved and hated him in turn" Marcel Jouhandeau
  • "What you don't know can't hurt you"
  • "Know thyself"

Translations

  • British English: know Pronunciation for know If you know something, you have that information in your mind.You should know the answer to that question.nəʊ VERB You should know the answer to that question.
  • Spanish: saber Pronunciation for saber v
  • French: savoir Pronunciation for savoir vt
  • German: wissen Pronunciation for wissen v
  • Chinese: 知道Pronunciation for 知道 v
  • Arabic: يَعْرِفُPronunciation for يَعْرِفُ v
  • Portuguese: saberPronunciation for saber v
  • Russian: знатьPronunciation for знать v
  • Croatian: znatiPronunciation for znati v
  • Czech: vědětPronunciation for vědět v
  • Danish: videPronunciation for vide v
  • Dutch: wetenPronunciation for weten v
  • Finnish: tietääPronunciation for tietää v
  • Greek: ξέρωPronunciation for ξέρω v
  • Italian: conoscerePronunciation for conoscere v
  • Japanese: 知っているPronunciation for 知っている v
  • Korean: 알다Pronunciation for 알다 v
  • Norwegian: vitePronunciation for vite v
  • Polish: wiedziećPronunciation for wiedzieć v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: saberPronunciation for saber v
  • European Spanish: saber Pronunciation for saber v
  • Swedish: vetaPronunciation for veta v
  • Thai: รู้Pronunciation for รู้ v
  • Turkish: bilmekPronunciation for bilmek v
  • Vietnamese: biếtPronunciation for biết v
  • British English: know If you know a person, you have met them and spoken to them.I didn't know any of the other people in the class.nəʊ VERB I didn't know any of the other people in the class.
  • French: connaître vt
  • Arabic: يَعْرِفُ v
  • Brazilian Portuguese: conhecer vt

Usage examples

  • She'd know I'd gone through her handbag of course -- things would be in the wrong place.
    Hugo Wilcken, THE EXECUTION (2002)
  • It is easy to work with them because they are passionate about shoes and know what they want.
    Country Life (2004)
  • I know that you must be either resident or ordinarily resident during the five years that the SSIA is held.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Even a yes vote in a referendum was later reversed'I really don't know what's happening,' says Margaret MacDonald stoically.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • In Mackenzie's own words: `Thus passed away the noblest specimen of humanity it has ever been my privilege to know.
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'K'

Related Terms

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