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
After all, Southerners know better than to show up empty-handed!
—
Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 9 June 2025
The 25-year-old would know better than a lot of people — he’s also worked on Jack Rook’s Big Boys, Nick Hamm’s historical epic William Tell and now turns to the BBC Three’s millennial coming-of-age drama based on the memoir by transgender journalist Paris Lees.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
The nod of his head and tight grin seem so Kansas friendly, but Dexter fans know better..
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Trump is beyond shame, but this corrupt debasement of the Oval Office is accepted by so many who should know better, including his fellow Republicans.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for know better
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Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 9 June 2025
The 25-year-old would know better than a lot of people — he’s also worked on Jack Rook’s Big Boys, Nick Hamm’s historical epic William Tell and now turns to the BBC Three’s millennial coming-of-age drama based on the memoir by transgender journalist Paris Lees.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
The nod of his head and tight grin seem so Kansas friendly, but Dexter fans know better..
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2025
Trump is beyond shame, but this corrupt debasement of the Oval Office is accepted by so many who should know better, including his fellow Republicans.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for know better
Cite this Entry
“Know better.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/know%20better. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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