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 masked suspect who fatally shot a beloved barber while trying to steal his handmade Miami Cuban bracelet outside a Queens strip club ran off empty-handed, but left those who knew the victim with an unfathomable hole in their hearts. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 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 Police told Fox News Digital that both a possible motive and whether Hemingway and Evans knew each other remained part of the ongoing investigation. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The first victim knew Castro; the second victim did not, Gadeberg said. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 Senior quarterback Carter McDonald, who is splitting reps with sophomore Oliver Johnston, knew somebody would emerge as the Storm’s leading receiver. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 Taylor noted the wind, which was ideal, and knew the whitetail hadn’t caught his scent. — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026 Phillip and Makenzie choreographed the sequence using yarn so the dancers knew where each laser would be. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026 Diana, who knew the revelation was coming, chose to wear the figure-hugging, off-the-shoulder silk dress by Greek designer Christina Stambolian for a gala at London’s Serpentine Gallery. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knew

Verb

However, its more fundamental influence on biology has remained poorly understood, researchers say.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2026
The arrival ceremony suggested that others understood the communicative potential of clothes at such an event, too.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of understood

Verb

But today, as the Star Trek franchise celebrates its 60th anniversary, Navia finds opportunities to celebrate the legacy of her love and connect with Trek’s devoted fans who have experienced their own powerful grieving journeys.

— Scott Huver, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
New York City had experienced four days of near-record rainfall, leaving both the field and the fans soggy, with many expecting that Thursday’s game would be postponed or canceled.

— Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 21, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of experienced

Verb

Those who arrived in the 1900s had very different cultural, political, and religious backgrounds from the older Texas Jews.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
In past crises, these mediators had little of their own physical infrastructure or revenue on the line.

— Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of had

Verb

The farm provided the courts and CFIA with nothing that either institution recognized as serious science.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
From fashion and design to food and manufacturing, Italian excellence is recognized and admired all over the world.

— Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of recognized

Verb

El Nino's impact will be felt differently across regions, but it is expected to jeopardize food security worldwide.

— EDNA TARIGAN, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Neither home nor sacred space, to her the building felt stuck between states, stubbornly shaking its head.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of felt

Verb

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
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

Definition of deciphered

Verb

The hotel underwent a $75 million renovation in 2015, which added a cinema, cigar room, kids’ playroom, billiard room, and wine cellars to the already-luxurious 82-room property.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Users of classical psychedelics who underwent a major trip on the Fourth of July expressed reduced support for partisan political violence, whereas tripping around the time of the Democratic and Republican conventions increased it.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026