know

[ noh ]

/ noʊ /

verb (used with object), knew, known, know·ing.

to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty: I know the situation fully.

to have established or fixed in the mind or memory: to know a poem by heart; Do you know the way to the park from here?

to be cognizant or aware of: I know it.

be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report: to know the mayor.

to understand from experience or attainment (usually followed by how before an infinitive): to know how to make gingerbread.

to be able to distinguish, as one from another: to know right from wrong.

Archaic. to have sexual intercourse with.

verb (used without object), knew, known, know·ing.

to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as of fact or truth.

to be cognizant or aware, as of some fact, circumstance, or occurrence; have information, as about something.

noun

the fact or state of knowing; knowledge.

Idioms for know

in the know, possessing inside, secret, or special information.

know the ropes, Informal. to understand or be familiar with the particulars of a subject or business: He knew the ropes better than anyone else in politics.

Origin of know

before 900; Middle English knowen, knawen, Old English gecnāwan; cognate with Old High German -cnāhan, Old Norse knā to know how, be able to; akin to Latin ( g)nōvī, Greek gignṓskein. See gnostic, can¹

SYNONYMS FOR know

1 Know, comprehend, understand imply being aware of meanings. To know is to be aware of something as a fact or truth: He knows the basic facts of the subject. I know that he agrees with me. To comprehend is to know something thoroughly and to perceive its relationships to certain other ideas, facts, etc. To understand is to be fully aware not only of the meaning of something but also of its implications: I could comprehend all he said, but did not understand that he was joking.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR know ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM know

know·er, noun

Words nearby know

knotty, knotty rhatany, knotweed, knotwork, knout, know, know a thing or two, know all the answers, know beans, know better, know by heart

British Dictionary definitions for in the know

know

/ (nəʊ) /

verb knows, knowing, knew (njuː) or known (nəʊn) (mainly tr)

(also intr; may take a clause as object) to be or feel certain of the truth or accuracy of (a fact, etc)

to be acquainted or familiar with she's known him five years

to have a familiarity or grasp of, as through study or experience he knows French

(also intr; may take a clause as object) to understand, be aware of, or perceive (facts, etc) he knows the answer now

(foll by how) to be sure or aware of (how to be or do something)

to experience, esp deeply to know poverty

to be intelligent, informed, or sensible enough (to do something) she knew not to go home yet

(may take a clause as object) to be able to distinguish or discriminate

archaic to have sexual intercourse with

I know what I have an idea

know what's what to know how one thing or things in general work

you know informal a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis to a statement

you never know things are uncertain

noun

in the know informal aware or informed

Derived forms of know

knowable, adjective knower, noun

Word Origin for know

Old English gecnāwan; related to Old Norse knā I can, Latin noscere to come to know

Idioms and Phrases with in the know (1 of 2)

in the know

Privy to special or secret information, as in Not too many people are in the know about this project. [Late 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with in the know (2 of 2)

know

In addition to the idioms beginning with know

know all the answers
know a thing or two
know beans
know better
know by heart
know by sight
know enough to come in out of the rain
know from Adam
know if one is coming or going
know it all
know like a book
know one's own mind
know one's place
know one's stuff
know one's way around
know only too well
know the ropes
know the score
know where one stands
know which side of one's bread is buttered

also see:

before you know it
(know) by heart
come in out of the rain, know enough to
coming or going, know if one's
for all (I know)
god knows
(know) inside out
in the know
it takes one to know one
left hand doesn't know what right hand is doing
not know beans
not know from Adam
not know where to turn
not know which way to jump
thing or two, know
what do you know
what have you (who knows what)
which is which, know
you know

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

know

verb (used with object), knew, known, know·ing.

verb (used without object), knew, known, know·ing.

noun

Idioms for know

Origin of know

SYNONYMS FOR know

OTHER WORDS FROM know

Words nearby know

British Dictionary definitions for in the know

verb knows, knowing, knew (njuː) or known (nəʊn) (mainly tr)

noun

Derived forms of know

Word Origin for know

Idioms and Phrases with in the know (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with in the know (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

know

verb (used with object), knew, known, know·ing.

verb (used without object), knew, known, know·ing.

noun

Idioms for know

Origin of know

SYNONYMS FOR know

OTHER WORDS FROM know

Words nearby know

Words related to in the know

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for in the know

verb knows, knowing, knew (njuː) or known (nəʊn) (mainly tr)

noun

Derived forms of know

Word Origin for know

Idioms and Phrases with in the know (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with in the know (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for in the know