know better

idiom

1

: to be smart or sensible enough not to do something

You walked home alone? Don't you know better (than that)?

She'll know better than to trust them again.

There's no excuse for his behavior. He's old enough to know better.

Don't blame him. He's just a child and he doesn't know (any) better.

2

: to know or understand the truth about something

She tried to tell me that it wasn't her fault, but I know better.

3

: to know or understand more than other people

You can't tell him what to do. He always thinks that he knows better.

Examples of know better in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mike Vrabel the adult, Mike Vrabel the coach of the New England Patriots, should know better. —Steve Buckley, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

Though Dylan tries to follow, Charlie and Alani know better than to let him. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025

The ones who are supposed to know better. —Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 28 Oct. 2025

And of all the players and personnel in the organization, few know better of Vitello’s ability to transform a team than Gilbert. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for know better

• abettor
• newsletter
• typesetter
• bettor
• debtor
• fetter
• getter
• letter
• netter
• petar
• petter
• rhetor