know

verb \ ˈnō \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Examples: know in a Sentence

Definition of know

knew play \ˈnü also ˈnyü\; known play \ˈnōn\; knowing

transitive verb

1 a (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

2 a : 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

—

knowable

play \ˈnō-ə-bəl\ adjective

—

knower

play \ˈnō-ər\ noun

— know from

: to have knowledge of

didn't know from sibling rivalry
—Penny Marshall

See know defined for English-language learners

See know defined for kids

Examples of know in a Sentence

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 of know from the Web

Get our daily newsletter The Gosaibis claimed to know none of this.

— The Economist, "A judge blames many parties in the Gulf’s biggest-ever corporate scandal," 9 June 2018
Other than her approximate age, investigators know hardly anything about the baby girl whose body was found floating in the ocean near the Boynton Beach Inlet on Friday afternoon.

— sabrina lolo, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Dead newborn found in ocean likely was born in hospital, report says," 7 June 2018
But as many Americans know, wages have not kept up with the cost of housing.

— anne branigin, The Root, "Ben Carson Backs Off Newest HUD Plan, Which Would Raise Rent for Poor Households by 20 Percent," 7 June 2018
Seth Rockman, who teaches at Brown University in Providence about the Revolution, thinks people should know more about the Gaspee Affair.

— Washington Post, "Rhode Island plans to burn ship to protest Boston Tea Party," 7 June 2018
As Roll Call noted, there wasn’t that much to be said for progress in today’s session: Nobody cursed at each other during the meeting as has been known to happen on occasion, Rep. Joe L. Barton said.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "The House GOP Still Can’t Figure Out What It Wants on Immigration," 7 June 2018
This certainly applies to knowing how much your vehicle is worth to a dealer.

— Car and Driver, "Get Your Car Value," 7 June 2018
Scientists have known that both male and female bottlenose dolphins have signature whistles somewhat akin to names since the 1960s.

— jason bittel, National Geographic, "Why Male Dolphin Buddies 'Hold Hands'," 7 June 2018
Dorothy Craig hasn’t quite mastered writing her name on paper, but the 3-year-old knows how to dial 9-1-1.

— vanesa brashier, Houston Chronicle, "Cleveland mom says she is proud of daughter’s 9-1-1 call for help," 7 June 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.

Origin and Etymology of know

Middle English, from Old English cnāwan; akin to Old High German bichnāan to recognize, Latin gnoscere, noscere to come to know, Greek gignōskein

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

know Synonyms

Phrases

pick up on;

know

noun

Definition of know

: knowledge

— in the know

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

See know defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of know from the Web

German immigrants who settled here in the mid-1800s brought with them the know-how to produce high-quality lagers, and ultimately dozens of breweries sprang up to cement the city’s stock in brewing.

— mike pramik, USA TODAY, "Milwaukee breweries from classic to craft," 6 June 2018
Wily veteran Dwyane Wade, meanwhile, is a tough foe, with the kind of suit-wearing, fashion week-attending know-how that separates the style men from the fashion boys.

— the editors of gq, GQ, "The 2018 NBA Style Showdown: Vote Now for the League's Best-Dressed Player in Round 2," 5 June 2018
Can-do entrepreneurship alone won’t modernize the region’s transportation infrastructure, nor will a concentration of academic know-how make housing more affordable.

— bill sibold, STAT, "Boston: the best city in the world to fail in biotech," 3 June 2018
His plan hinges on leveraging the rental car company’s operational know-how, and being ready to try just about anything.

— alex davies, WIRED, "This Week in the Future of Cars: Money Money Money Moneyyy!," 3 June 2018
There’s always a healthy dose of entrepreneurialism at Brainstorm Tech, and several startup savants will share their know-how at Brainstorm Tech.

— andrew nusca, Fortune, "VMware, AMD, GE, and the U.S. Air Force Are Coming to Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2018," 1 June 2018
There’s even a slick dropper-post lever, the company’s first, with ergonomics inspired by its substantial shift-button know-how.

— aaron gulley, Outside Online, "Shimano Unveils New XTR 9100 Components," 29 May 2018
In keeping with its original raison d'être as a symbol of engineering know-how, the tower was upgraded as part of a four-year, $37 million renovation, completed in 2015.

— National Geographic, "From Historic to Cutting Edge: Revitalizing Iconic Buildings," 25 May 2018
Recruits will learn sociology as well as practical know-how.

— The Economist, "How the career of the British bobby is changing," 24 May 2018