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 One page, on paper, taped inside the front cover of a book, written before anyone knew the full answer and precisely because nobody did. — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Investigators said that all the teens knew one another but have not yet determined a motive for the killings, according to DeLand Police Chief Jason Umberger. — Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 Edenfield and another property crime detective, Braden Dobbins, were interviewing people who knew Williams. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 The venue, the Kravis Center, knew the concert was happening. — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 Lorena Gonzalez, president of the labor federation, said that several unions endorsed both candidates but Kim had lot of backing from San Francisco Bay Area unions that knew her through her work on progressive issues in San Francisco. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 Considering Banks’ filmography spans 50 years and includes Breaking Bad’s assortment of highly celebrated villains, Dalton knew the weight of such a statement. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026 Most people Leslie and Charlie knew said the couple made an odd match. — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026 Sellers also urged investigators to reexamine another woman who knew Chavez. — J.d. Miles, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knew

Verb

These types of conversations help teens feel understood and strengthen trust, while uncovering more about what is really driving the desire to change up their look.

— Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026
No one in the nuclear industry really understood the massive technological advancements made in oil drilling within the last 10 to 20 years, Baltzer told Fortune.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of understood

Verb

Rural locations showed little change, while cities outside the path — even those that experienced a very deep partial solar eclipse — did not display the same seismic pattern.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
One of the show’s consultants had experienced a similar loss, and their insights helped the writing staff find dramatic resonance.

— Maureen Lee Lenker, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of experienced

Verb

Kenya has until recently been widely recognized for rebuilding its elephant population from historic lows to more than 36,000 individuals by reducing poaching and protecting elephants.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards recognized several standout properties, with Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, earning the top spot among international wellness retreats for more than a decade.

— Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of recognized

Verb

Now, two years after her death, Elder's presence is felt on BTS's current world tour thanks to her mom, Jamie Elder, and BTS’ global fandom, known as Army.

— Nidhi Singh, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
The Maumelle High student-athlete initially felt something odd when putting the helmet on but continued practicing, Davis said.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 12 Aug. 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