know better

phrase

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

But the adults responsible for keeping it out of their reach know better, and there is no excuse. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Shamet said the Knicks know better than to trust one quarter. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026

Mollica bring to Thomas the disarming innocence of a young man who wants to know better than to get his hopes up, but can’t help himself anyway. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Some medical professionals have a reputation among attorneys as more defense-friendly, and prosecutors should know better than to pick them even before trial, Stimson told the Washington Examiner. — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for know better

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