know-how

[ noh-hou ]

/ ˈnoʊˌhaʊ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR know-how ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

knowledge of how to do something; faculty or skill for a particular activity; expertise: Designing a computer requires a lot of know-how.

Origin of know-how

1830–40, Americanism; noun use of verb phrase know how

Words nearby know-how

know the ropes, know the score, know where one stands, know which side of one's bread is buttered, know-all, know-how, know-it-all, know-nothing, know-nothings, knowable, knowe

Definition for know-how (2 of 2)

know ¹

[ 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.

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

Example sentences from the Web for know-how

Once again, Apple has all the know-how to enter, and dominate, this market without making an acquisition.

Apple Wants Beats So It Can Control You |Ted Gioia |May 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The Iranians now have most of the know-how and most of the radioactive stuff they need to build a bomb.

Iranian Bombs and Black Swans in the Nuclear Negotiations |Christopher Dickey |December 17, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Tax incentives exist abroad, and those with the resources and know-how have long taken advantage of them, well within the law.

Mitt Romney’s Flat-Footed Tax Dodge |Daniel Stone |July 10, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Food and relief and American know-how may not be enough for Haiti.

What If Haiti Can't Be Saved? |Reihan Salam |January 15, 2010 |DAILY BEAST

This, he said, would be a miracle of American Medical know-how.

Prologue to an Analogue |Leigh Richmond
You have the know-how and more general experience, and can do it.

The Yazoo Mystery |Irving Craddock
By phone, by gossip, by hearsay and by know-how he got the stories behind the story—the real horrors that he couldn't broadcast.

Prologue to an Analogue |Leigh Richmond
Man, it's a bigger job than you think, and you've got to have the know-how and the nerve before you can put it over.

Slippy McGee, Sometimes Known as the Butterfly Man |Marie Conway Oemler
Mebbe—mebbe Sis'll be gettin' married some day, an' I tell ye a little doctorin' know-how is mighty handy in a house.

The Bacillus of Beauty |Harriet Stark

British Dictionary definitions for know-how (1 of 2)

know-how

noun informal

ingenuity, aptitude, or skill; knack

commercial and saleable knowledge of how to do a particular thing; experience

British Dictionary definitions for know-how (2 of 2)

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 know-how

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-how

noun

Origin of know-how

Words nearby know-how

Definition for know-how (2 of 2)

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

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

noun

Origin of know

SYNONYMS FOR know

OTHER WORDS FROM know

Example sentences from the Web for know-how

British Dictionary definitions for know-how (1 of 2)

noun informal

British Dictionary definitions for know-how (2 of 2)

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

noun

Derived forms of know

Word Origin for know

Idioms and Phrases with know-how

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

know-how

noun

Origin of know-how

Words nearby know-how

Definition for know-how (2 of 2)

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

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

noun

Origin of know

SYNONYMS FOR know

OTHER WORDS FROM know

Words related to know-how

Example sentences from the Web for know-how

British Dictionary definitions for know-how (1 of 2)

noun informal

British Dictionary definitions for know-how (2 of 2)

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

noun

Derived forms of know

Word Origin for know

Idioms and Phrases with know-how