Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

know (someone) by name

idiom

Definition of know (someone) by name

1 : to know a person well enough to know the person's name
  • She knows all of her customers by name.
  • I took her to a restaurant where the owner knows me by name.
  • The police know him by name.
2 : to know a person's name only
  • He said he only knew her by name and didn't know much more about her.

Word by Word Definitions

know play

  1. : to perceive directly : have direct cognition of

  2. : to have understanding of

  3. : to recognize the nature of : discern

  1. : knowledge

See the full definition of know
someone play

  1. : some person : somebody

See the full definition of someone
name play

  1. : a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing

  2. : a word or symbol used in logic to designate an entity

  3. : a descriptive often disparaging epithet

  1. : to give a name to : call

  2. : to mention or identify by name

  3. : to accuse by name

  1. : of, relating to, or bearing a name

  2. : appearing in the name of a literary or theatrical production

  3. : having an established reputation

See the full definition of name

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up know (someone) by name? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games