cognize

verb

käg-ˈnīz How to pronounce cognize (audio)
Definition of cognizenext
as in to know
to have a clear idea of the philosopher's claim that we can never cognize—in a fundamental sense—anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cognize As a social networking platform, individuals should cognize the importance of having a fully complete and impressive profile. — Robin Ryan, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cognize
  1. know
  2. understand
  3. comprehend
  4. recognize
  5. decipher
  6. see
  7. grasp
  8. appreciate
Verb
  • Can the letter writer let sister know her fuss over food and product choices for 4-year-old nephew is hard to watch?
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Speaking of nail-biters, Marisa Berenson, better known for her roles in front of the camera, is in the process of putting together her own movie project.
    — Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of know
Verb
  • For some reason--some great reason, that only the editors on the other side of the room understand--the reporters for at least the Democrat-Gazette's story (unlike some national outlets) decided to call Skip Rutherford.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Firms like Edward Jones and LPL Financial, meanwhile, are rapidly adopting AI tools to gain financial insights, but also to better understand and communicate with their customers.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of understand
Verb
  • The resulting consequences to the information ecosystem are hard to comprehend, with Brown Brothers Media claiming to vacuum up tens of millions of views via their scheme.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Ironically, sports uniforms at Eton are even harder to comprehend than the regular daily uniform.
    — Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of comprehend
Verb
  • The credit ecosystem will continue to recognize these human achievements, while finding ways to appropriately recognize the contributions of their AI collaborators.
    — Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Williamson was recognized for his role in organizing the Dawson’s Creek table read held to support Van Der Beek following his colon cancer diagnosis.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of recognize
Verb
  • Romanoff sacrifices herself to retrieve the soul stone, and Nebula involuntarily connects with her past self—a connection used by a past Thanos to decipher the Avengers’ plan.
    — Michael McDonough, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
  • But a more apt comparison might be the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, in which Medieval scholars deciphered the staggering ruins of Classical Rome.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of decipher
Verb
  • Just a kid yearning to be seen, one who’s been told that being seen means being beautiful and that being beautiful means being white.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Big caps were offering one of the most sumptuous cushions over bonds ever seen.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of see
Verb
  • The phone, the radio, the television, the fax, the cell, texting, video calls, AI—who among us truly grasps its underpinnings?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Moaning, sobbing, pleading, the woman grasps the hand of her daughter, Ema (Mercedes Morán).
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of grasp
Verb
  • The combined engineering of spatial, acoustic and visual experiences is, perhaps, still not fully appreciated.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Over the course of Fincher’s deal, Hollywood has come to appreciate the cultural currency that a major theatrical rollout can offer.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of appreciate

Browse Nearby Words

cognizant
cognize
cognized
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cognize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cognize. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All