know

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   To have a fact, answer, or piece of information in your mind.

   Grammar: Takes an object or clause: I know the answer; I know that he left. Can also stand alone: I know.

   Patterns

   • know something
   • know that something
   • know how to do something
   • know about something

   I know the answer to that question.

   Do you know when the train leaves?

   She knew that he was lying.

2. 2verbtransitive

   To be familiar with a person, place, or thing from experience, rather than just having heard about it.

   Grammar: Takes an object: I know her well; I know this city.

   Patterns

   • know someone
   • know somewhere
   • know someone well

   I've known Tom since we were kids.

   Do you know a good restaurant around here?

   She knows this part of town very well.

3. 3verbtransitive

   To have learned a skill or language so that you can use it.

   Grammar: Often with how to: know how to swim.

   Patterns

   • know how to do something
   • know a language

   My cousin knows three languages.

   Do you know how to change a tire?

4. 4verbtransitive

   To recognize or tell something apart from other things or to be able to identify it.

   Grammar: Followed by an object, often with by or from: know a bird by its song.

   Patterns

   • know someone by something
   • know A from B

   I'd know his laugh anywhere.

   You can't know a twin from the other without the necklace.

5. 5verbtransitiveformal

   To experience or live through something.

   Grammar: Often in the perfect: never known such cold.

   The region has not known peace for decades.

   I've never known her to be late.

Word forms

Common combinations

know the answer

Do you know the answer?

know someone well

I know her very well.

know how to

He knows how to cook.

let someone know

Let me know when you arrive.

for all I know

For all I know, he's already gone.

you know

It was, you know, a bit awkward.

Synonyms and how they differ

understand

Understand focuses on grasping meaning, while know can mean simply having the information.

realize

Realize means to come to know, a moment of noticing, rather than the state of knowing.

be aware of

Be aware of is more formal and suggests awareness of something existing.

recognize

Recognize means identifying something you have met before.

Opposites

Word family

knowledge noun

what you know

knowing adjective

showing that you understand something unspoken

knowingly adverb

on purpose, aware of what you do

known adjective

recognized or familiar

unknown adjective

not known

Commonly confused: know or no? know or know vs. meet?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “know”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words