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 The state’s rebuttal witness testified that Hinton was grieving and angry but knew his actions were wrong. — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026 After all, very few people outside of the inner A24-Fielder-Oppenheim circle knew anything about it before its shock Telluride screening. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026 However, Bitdefender emphasized that this does not establish that the company created the malware or knew about its presence. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Baimbridge knew right away that something was up; Ennesser usually texted or e-mailed. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, former teammates and all who knew and loved him. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira said the motive in the killing was personal, and that the Salceda and Becerril knew each other. — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 By Candlelight When taking on this film, Potier, who is French, knew the stakes. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 One major question surrounding the issue is what NSU knew about Newell, a 2023 graduate of the college prep school affiliated with NSU and is often referred to as USchool. — Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knew

Verb

Its scientists understood the future of digital photography, but the company could not bring the right product to market.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
My abuser understood the power of words, and used them to dictate the terms of my obedience.

— Debbie Millman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of understood

Verb

People with the second phenotype, called durable, might have grown up in a predictable world—for example, a strict religious sect or just a family that experienced little change—and developed only certain coping strategies as a result.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Kyiv has said that drones relying on the service stopped working at speeds above 100 mph, and also experienced disruptions when flying at lower speeds.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of experienced

Verb

One was Larry Page, the 53-year-old Google cofounder who had ties to California for decades and began severing them after the wealth tax proposal.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Both events revealed that the old models of long- and short-duration GRBs had holes in them.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of had

Verb

Tyler Shultz, a former Theranos research engineer who helped expose the company’s faulty blood-testing technology, barely recognized the woman on-screen.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
The manager there recognized a Met Opera ticket in the print and ordered the $90 ties, which sold out in three days.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of recognized

Verb

Video showed the bird squawking while Fairbarn handled it, and prosecutors said Peachy felt pain when it was pulled by its feet.

— Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Video showed the bird squawking while Fairbarn handled it and prosecutors said Peachy felt pain when it was pulled by its feet.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of felt

Verb

But a more apt comparison might be the Mirabilia Urbis Romae, in which Medieval scholars deciphered the staggering ruins of Classical Rome.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2026
Re-creating the Herculaneum scrolls To date, one entire scroll and passages from others have been deciphered, largely thanks to the Vesuvius Challenge, a project launched in 2023 that encourages researchers to decode scrolls for cash prizes.

— Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of deciphered

Verb

Reyes said that additional removals must halt while the case, filed by the DC Preservation League and two golfers earlier this year in hopes of stopping the renovation, underwent further review.

— Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
Pimlico identities State of Maryland The Preakness Stakes was held at Laurel Park in May 2026 while Pimlico underwent redevelopment.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026