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 After the second plane struck, Doremus knew the crashes were an attack. — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 Wade knew that despite their apparent uniformity, oceans hide many distinct habitats that differ in temperature, currents, ultraviolet light, chemistry, and oxygen. — Quanta Magazine, 11 Sep. 2026 White knew Adderley through U-M alumnus David Alger, president of Fred Alger Management. — Sheryl Lee, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026 Williams knew that her husband was safe because his flight had been grounded. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 She was taken by Keller’s drive and vision, and knew that Talm’s unique positioning could be highly complementary to Caudalie. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026 Delgado Lopez, 31, knew both of his victims, police sources with knowledge of the case said. — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 Only a restricted group of planners knew the exercise was approaching. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2026 His note arrived after years of halting development, from an actor Greengrass knew only casually. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knew

Verb

But González understood the system better than all those people.

— Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
Still, the 2021 GAO investigation found that the protections were unevenly understood and applied.

— María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of understood

Verb

An Alabama woman accused of causing a deadly crash while driving a school bus experienced a medical crisis during the accident, her supporters reportedly said.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
The Chicago area experienced heavy rains and high heat this summer, conditions experts and community members believe are contributing to higher-than-usual mosquito activity.

— Elena Tittel, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of experienced

Verb

The Royals had the tying run at the plate with no outs in the bottom of the inning.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
The hierarchy have applied a couple of touch-ups here and there, adding Germany full-back Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari, who had an impressive World Cup up front for Morocco, but this is a near-complete team.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of had

Verb

Narra, whose family is from southern India, recognized one of the songs — a number from the romantic comedy, Desi Boyz.

— Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026
The film won for documentary or nonfiction special, while Hargitay was recognized for directing for a documentary/nonfiction program.

— Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of recognized

Verb

The Georgia international cutting in off the left to curl the ball into the far corner has been a trademark in European football since his 2022 move to Napoli, but the ball in behind being played by his opposite winger, Desire Doue, felt different.

— Art de Roché, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
The impact felt by Muslim Americans and others has been part of what Vida Lashgari has learned about the attacks that took place a few years before she was born.

— Deepti Hajela, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 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

Participants without heart disease at the beginning of the study then underwent an MRI three years later.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
In 2024, Shedrowitzky underwent a procedure called a tracheobronchoplasty to structurally reinforce his trachea and main bronchi.

— Angelica Stabile , Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026