Synonyms of knew

knew

verb

past tense of know

1

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

• understood
• comprehended
• grasped
• appreciated
• possessed
• perceived
• had
• apprehended
• followed
• fathomed
• kenned
• savvied
• cognized
• caught on (to)
• picked up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misunderstood
• misinterpreted
• misperceived
• misapprehended
• misconceived
• misknew

2

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

• experienced
• had
• saw
• felt
• underwent
• endured
• witnessed
• suffered
• tasted
• encountered
• sustained
• received
• passed
• went through
• met
• accepted
• digested
• assimilated

3

as in saw

to have a clear idea of

I think I know what you're trying to say

Synonyms & Similar Words

• understood
• saw
• recognized
• deciphered
• comprehended
• appreciated
• grasped
• realized
• got
• sensed
• discerned
• perceived
• conceived
• made
• apprehended
• beheld
• dug
• intuited
• seized
• registered
• assimilated
• caught
• twigged
• made out
• caught on (to)
• picked up on
• tumbled (to)
• decoded
• grokked
• savvied
• cognized
• compassed
• cottoned (to or on to)
• absorbed
• digested
• fathomed
• took in
• penetrated
• pierced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• missed
• misunderstood
• misread
• misinterpreted
• mistook
• misconstrued
• misconceived
• misapprehended
• misperceived

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of knew

Bella chews him out for punching Angus in the face right before Angus’s big presentation, which Johnny knew about because they were supposed to throw a return supper for him, a dinner Johnny was supposed to cook. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Drivers knew the back entrances, the factory layouts, and the best path to the boss of a mom-and-pop workshop. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Royal expert Ingrid Seward, who knew Diana and whose latest book, Catherine and Diana, chronicles the lives of the Princesses of Wales, believes the battle to control Diana’s legacy will continue beyond next year’s milestone anniversary. — Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026

His reputation, after all, was as one of the great defensive minds in the modern history of college football, a coach who, at Texas Christian, knew how to get more out of lesser talent. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

The record can also establish when events occurred and who knew about them. — William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

In November 2024, my daughter knew that a sorority sister had accused fraternity members of gang-raping her. — Jennifer Obel, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

People knew him as the guy who vehemently opposed NAFTA, who showed up on picket lines, who only wore suits made in Ohio. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026

The group knew that for many listeners outside Japan, this wouldn’t simply be a new single. — Crystal Bell, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026