Meaning & use
known
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Recognized or understood by people in general, or established as true or real.
Grammar: Comes before the noun: a known fact, a known risk.
Patterns
- a known something
- known to be something
It is a known fact that sound travels slower than light.
The road has several known hazards, so drive carefully.
She is a known supporter of the local library.
adjectiveafter a verb
Famous or recognized for a particular quality or achievement.
Grammar: Follows be or become, with for or as: known for her humor, known as the Big Apple.
Patterns
- known for something
- known as something
- known to someone
The town is known for its blue-tiled bakery.
He became known as a fair and patient coach.
The recipe is known to every cook in the village.
adjectivebefore a nounformal
Already identified or identifiable by name, especially when connected with crime or danger.
Grammar: Often used in official language: a known offender, a known allergy.
Patterns
- a known something
Police said he was a known offender in the area.
The patient has a known allergy to penicillin.
Common combinations
- known for
- The island is known for its quiet beaches.
- known as
- The tower is better known as the Leaning Tower.
- well known
- She is a well known figure in local politics.
- known to be
- The dog is known to be gentle with children.
- widely known
- His kindness was widely known across the neighborhood.
- make something known
- Please make your concerns known to the committee.
Synonyms and how they differ
- familiar
- Familiar stresses that something feels recognizable to a person, while known can describe general public knowledge.
- famous
- Famous is stronger and means known by very many people, whereas known can mean known by a small group.
- recognized
- Recognized suggests official or formal acceptance, as in a recognized expert, rather than simple awareness.
- established
- Established points to something long-standing and settled as fact, while known only says it is understood.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: known or noun?
known vs noun
A noun is a part of speech and is pronounced like known only in some accents; the spelling and meaning are different.
Practice
The village is ___ its annual lantern festival.
Choose one answer.
Known for introduces the reason something is recognized. Known by means identified by, as in known by his nickname, and the other options change the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “known”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.