KNEW Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

knew

verb

Definition of knew

past tense of know

as in understood

to have a practical understanding of a career diplomat who knows several languages a fan who really knows baseball

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in experienced

to come to a knowledge of (something) by living through it knows full well how nerve-racking it can be to speak in public

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in saw

to have a clear idea of I think I know what you're trying to say

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of knew With the amount of firepower that Geneva graduated from last year’s lineup, senior forward Gabe Barwiolek knew the burden to score was going to fall upon his shoulders. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 The grand jury said then-state Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office knew of the plans to divert the money. — Jim Vertuno, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 In April, the city shared the findings of a traffic study that revealed what many residents and community leaders in the Hemphill corridor’s neighborhoods knew to be true. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 His daughter Angela West said farming had been part of her father’s life long before Kansas City knew his nickname. — Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 Detectives are still working to determine if Garcia and Perdomo knew the couple. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Like Uber , Airbnb had invented a new thing before most people even knew there was a high demand for it. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 The litigation so far has revealed internal documents suggesting that Meta knew of the risks its platforms posed to young people, despite public statements about its commitments to safety. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 Most of the characters are amalgams of people who knew and worked with Bourdain, who died by suicide in 2018 at age 61. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knew

Verb

But being early didn’t mean customers immediately understood the concept.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
One frequent Johnny Carson guest, however, understood the truth.

— Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of understood

Verb

Adames, who had an MRI on Monday, will miss more than 10 days, though manager Tony Vitello said the team is optimistic the veteran can return before the season ends in late September.

— Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Iranian news agency Rokna reported that people in Tehran said some petrol stations had no gas available, forcing them to temporarily close, while other stations had long lines on Monday and Tuesday.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of had

Verb

Many university students have turned the ROI factor into the pursuit of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers, and many of the top ranking schools were recognized for their STEM programs.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
The attempt to rename the gulf, which has gone by the same name since the 16th Century, drew international opposition, and numerous media outlets vowed to stick with the common and internationally recognized usage.

— Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of recognized

Verb

Some Black shoppers, who felt alienated after Target’s 2025 DEI rollbacks, expressed fresh disappointment on Monday.

— Reuters, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Yet the recent swirl of negative discourse around influencer culture has felt different, in part because hating influencers is no longer just a snarky internet pastime.

— Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of felt

Verb

Uncertainty notwithstanding, the longevity world has glommed onto the notion that the vaginal microbiome is some kind of exotic tealeaf that can be deciphered—and perfected by purchasing the right supplements.

— Sarah DiGregorio, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026
Its successor script, Linea B, was also a mystery until it was deciphered in 1952 by an amateur linguist and cryptographer Michael Ventris with the help of classicist John Chadwick, both building on patterns in the script first identified by classicist Alice Kober.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Definition of deciphered

Verb

Additionally, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, underwent a lung transplant in June after being diagnosed in 2018 with chronic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung condition.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Busy Philipps underwent two invasive surgeries this spring related to a malignant tumor in her brain.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026