know the meaning of (something)
idiom
: to understand (something) because one has experienced it
I know the meaning of loneliness.
—often used in negative statementsThose people don't know the meaning of hard work.
—often used in an exaggerated way to make a forceful statementHe doesn't know the meaning of fear.
I'll never stop trying. I don't know the meaning of the word "failure."
Examples of know the meaning of (something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet, today, our nation is governed by inept leaders who don’t know the meaning of sacrifice — save for a few.
—
Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2024
But Hair and Noll now really know the meaning of a long hospital stay.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2020
Amill Principe and his wife know the meaning of heartache.
—Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2022
One of the key findings of the report, Purkiss said, is that people are confused and don’t know the meaning of the labels on compostable and biodegradable plastic items.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 3 Nov. 2022
Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike and the horse's trainer clearly know the meaning of perseverance.
—Eileen Finan, PEOPLE.com, 11 May 2022
The group says the need for such laws was made clear by a 2018 national survey that showed 66 percent of people ages 18 to 34 didn’t know the meaning of the word Auschwitz.
—BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2021
That happens because the program doesn’t really know the meaning of the sentences, says Chad DeChant, an AI expert at Columbia University.
—Sofia Moutinho, Science | AAAS, 26 Feb. 2021
The brake pedal doesn't waste a millimeter of travel and follows an arc just long enough for nuanced modulation, and the calipers and rotors don't know the meaning of the word fade.
—Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 14 Dec. 2020
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Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 3 July 2024
But Hair and Noll now really know the meaning of a long hospital stay.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2020
Amill Principe and his wife know the meaning of heartache.
—Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2022
One of the key findings of the report, Purkiss said, is that people are confused and don’t know the meaning of the labels on compostable and biodegradable plastic items.
—Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 3 Nov. 2022
Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike and the horse's trainer clearly know the meaning of perseverance.
—Eileen Finan, PEOPLE.com, 11 May 2022
The group says the need for such laws was made clear by a 2018 national survey that showed 66 percent of people ages 18 to 34 didn’t know the meaning of the word Auschwitz.
—BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2021
That happens because the program doesn’t really know the meaning of the sentences, says Chad DeChant, an AI expert at Columbia University.
—Sofia Moutinho, Science | AAAS, 26 Feb. 2021
The brake pedal doesn't waste a millimeter of travel and follows an arc just long enough for nuanced modulation, and the calipers and rotors don't know the meaning of the word fade.
—Jonathon Ramsey, Car and Driver, 14 Dec. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Know the meaning of (something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/know%20the%20meaning%20of%20%28something%29. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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