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 Crump, the family’s attorney, cast doubt on the notion that Wells may have drowned – saying the teen was a strong athlete and knew how to swim. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 11 July 2026 State officials claim these corporations knew about the extreme dangers. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 10 July 2026 But Bogenpohl stayed put, and the decision surprised few of the people who knew him best. — Latif Love july 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026 After all, the Warriors and the wider NBA world knew that those three are already rotation-caliber players. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 Before the world knew him as Austin Powers or the voice behind Shrek, Mike Myers spent five years as an SNL cast member from 1989 to 1994. — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 9 July 2026 Filming wrapped in May 2025, and as early as the fall of that year, the studio and Gillespie knew the movie wasn’t working. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2026 At that point, Bobrovsky knew his seven-season run in South Florida, one that included winning a pair of Stanley Cups, was over. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 Rice knew immediately that Warsh would go on to do something special. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knew

Verb

It isn't completely understood how ibogaine works, but scientists know ibogaine affects the brain’s reward and pleasure system.

— Gavin Escott, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Security is now understood as a personal risk structure, not merely a job title.

— Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of understood

Verb

Tornadoes are rare in Hubei province, which experienced its last one in May 2021.

— Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Such was the drop-off in form that Casemiro experienced at Manchester United, that he was omitted from Brazil’s Copa America squad in 2024 under previous coach Dorival Junior.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of experienced

Verb

Bordenave-Jenkins reportedly had plans to take family members to church on Sunday before visiting Knott’s Berry Farm with a cousin this week.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
The three children, who had no life-threatening injuries, were then taken to a hospital for evaluation and observation, the outlet reported.

— Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026

Definition of had

Verb

There was another controversy over the skull-and-crossbones tattoo, which is widely recognized as a Nazi symbol, on his chest.

— Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Based on the benefits of seawater, this therapy was already recognized in the 1960s in France, where Farnós studied at one of Europe’s oldest thalassotherapy and functional rehabilitation centers in Collioure.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026

Definition of recognized

Verb

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
The signature was deciphered with the help of AI, and specialists at auction house Lyon & Turnbull were able to confirm that Cadell was the artist.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 20 June 2026

Definition of deciphered

Verb

The singer underwent several name changes over the course of the career.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Asbestos remediation at CalTrans The press release noted that the Department of Transportation’s lab was found to have airborne asbestos in 2024, and various Trans Lab facilities underwent an asbestos removal procedure in April 2025.

— Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026