know

verb

\ ˈnō

knew\ ˈnü

also ˈnyü \; known\ ˈnōn

\; knowing

Definition of know

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a(1) : to perceive directly : have direct cognition of

(2) : to have understanding of importance of knowing oneself

(3) : to recognize the nature of : discern

b(1) : to recognize as being the same as something previously known

(2) : to be acquainted or familiar with

(3) : to have experience of

2a : to be aware of the truth or factuality of : be convinced or certain of

b : to have a practical understanding of knows how to write

3 archaic : to have sexual intercourse with

intransitive verb

1 : to have knowledge

2 : to be or become cognizant —sometimes used interjectionally with you especially as a filler in informal speech

know from

: to have knowledge of didn't know from sibling rivalry— Penny Marshall

know

noun

Definition of know (Entry 2 of 2)

: knowledge

in the know

: in possession of exclusive knowledge or information broadly : well-informed

Other Words from know Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about know

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Examples of know in a Sentence

Verb

He knows a lot about the history of the town. Do you know the answer? I don't know her name. Do you know what time it is? I don't know the words to that song. They knew a good deal about the problem. She knows the rules of the game. If you want the answer, ask someone who knows. I don't know much about art, but I know what I like. She knows that many people will not believe her.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Experts don’t know why this affects some people and not others and have found that simply continuing with antibiotic treatment can do more harm to a person’s system than good, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. — Kate Sheridan, SELF, "Here’s Exactly What to Do if a Tick Bites You," 14 July 2018 Today, Kardashian West is known for switching up her hair often, wearing butt-length extensions and wigs in lots of different colors and styles. — Lindsey V Thompson, Allure, "Kim Kardashian West Shares a Throwback Picture Minus Her Hair Extensions and Fake Lashes," 13 July 2018 That ruling overturned the 2015 decision by the state labor board, formally known as the Public Employment Relations Board. — David Garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "If state Supreme Court rules against San Diego on pensions, it could could cost city millions," 14 July 2018 The home, known as the house on bluff, also has high tech features. — David Gleisner, Daily Southtown, "Rare glass house carved into hillside hits the market in Olympia Fields," 14 July 2018 Their cell membranes, for example, are made up of two different kinds of fatty molecules, known as lipids. — Prachi Patel, Scientific American, "Engineered Microbe Shakes Up the Tree of Life," 13 July 2018 The Armenian Shadow Puppet Theater, known as Karagyoz, was especially popular in the 18th century. — Allison Keyes, Smithsonian, "Illuminating the Shadowy Art of Armenian Puppet Theater," 13 July 2018 World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, was ejected 11 times during his 17 year NBA career. — Joseph Spears, Indianapolis Star, "Metta World Peace ejected from game after punting the ball into the crowd," 13 July 2018 The 52-year-old site, officially known as Monarch Hill Renewable Energy Park, is inching toward being full. — Anne Geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Mount Trashmore, the landfill that's over 20 stories, will grow bigger and taller," 13 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

That makes no business sense for a country that’s already suffering from a painful lack of know-how in many crucial tech sectors. — Stephane Kasriel, Fortune, "Why Upwork Scratched College Degree Requirements From Our Job Descriptions," 6 June 2019 In fact, last time the West Bellevue house sold, in 2009, the buyer, a T-Mobile employee at the time, reportedly didn’t know of any Bezos connection until a reporter told him. — Mike Rosenberg, The Seattle Times, "Bellevue house and garage where Jeff Bezos started Amazon up for sale," 11 Feb. 2019 The American public in 1968 did not yet know Stonewall but did know of police raids on gay clubs. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Look how far they've come! Jim Parsons in the Broadway revival of 'Boys in the Band'," 31 May 2018 Donnelly said the council did not know of McGraw's purchases of pornography or firearms, until the federal government brought charges related to those items. — Alex Demarban, Anchorage Daily News, "Man charged with embezzling $315,000 for a plane, guns and porn," 23 Mar. 2018 Fisher, who started her company in 1984, didn’t know of Preston and his work until a few months ago. — Emilia Petrarca, The Cut, "Eileen Fisher Has a New Intern," 8 Feb. 2018 For those of you not in the know, Prince Harry has a very important BFF named Daphne Dunne, who's an (adorably sweet) Australian war widow. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Read the Surprise Letter Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Just Wrote to Their Most Devoted Fan," 29 Mar. 2019 Only about one-third of craft drinkers nationally are familiar with Ballast Point and even fewer know about its flagship Sculpin, according to Constellation’s consumer research. — Greg Trotter, chicagotribune.com, "How Ballast Point, once one of the fastest-growing craft breweries, lost its mojo — and how it might get it back," 18 May 2018 One of his main goals has been letting the public know about the 1,350 acres spread over 50-plus properties that the Sippican Lands Trust protects — about 15 percent of the land in Marion. — Paul E. Kandarian, BostonGlobe.com, "A nature lover from the get-go, he wants more to get out," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'know.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.