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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

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