IDM

know Definitions and Synonyms

verbnever progressive

UK /nəʊ/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	know
he/she/it	knows
present participle	knowing
past tense	knew
past participle	known

1
intransitive/transitive to have learned or found out about something
‘Have they arrived yet?’ ‘I don’t know.’
If you don’t know the answer, just guess.
How do you know my name?
know (that):
I knew she wasn’t really happy.
know what/where/how etc:
I don’t know where the money’s coming from.
know if:
I need to know if she’s made a decision yet.
know something about someone/something:
I don’t know anything about it.
know something for sure/for certain/for a fact:
We know for a fact that the fire was started deliberately.
know something from experience:
We know from experience that unemployment makes the problem worse.
Synonyms and related words
To know something or someone
know
realize
have heard of
...
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1. 1a
  intransitive/transitive to realize or understand something
  None of us really knew what had gone wrong.
  Synonyms and related words
  To understand something
  understand
  know
  work out
  ...
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2. 1b
  transitive often passiveused about things that most people think or believe are true
  The ancient city is known to have existed in the region.
  know someone/something to be something:
  The pilots were experienced and known to be very competent.
  know someone/something to do something:
  Some drugs are known to cause damage to unborn children.
  Synonyms and related words
  To know something or someone
  know
  realize
  have heard of
  ...
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2
transitive to be familiar with someone, because you have met them or because you are friends
Some of you may know Ivan already.
I felt I hardly knew my father.
She had known Nancy for years.
Synonyms and related words
To spend time with friends
see
socialize
associate with
...
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1. 2a
  to be familiar with a place, because you have been there
  Do you know Rome well?
  Synonyms and related words
  To know something or someone
  know
  realize
  have heard of
  ...
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2. 2b
  to be familiar with things such as books, music, or art
  Do you know Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony?
  Synonyms and related words
  To know something or someone
  know
  realize
  have heard of
  ...
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3. 2c
  to be familiar with a process or system
  Do you know this program?
  You know the rules.
  Synonyms and related words
  To know something or someone
  know
  realize
  have heard of
  ...
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4. 2d
  to be able to speak a language
  Do you know any Spanish?
  Synonyms and related words
  Speaking or translating other languages
  bilingual
  bilingualism
  code switching
  ...
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3
transitive to use a particular name for someone or something
know someone/something as something:
The village was known as Garden Mill.
know someone/something by something:
They know all their tutors by their first names.
Synonyms and related words
To name, or to have a particular name
name
call
christen
...
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4
transitive to remember or recognize someone because of a particular skill or quality that they have
know someone as/for something:
He was best known as a painter.
We know her mostly for her love poetry.
Synonyms and related words
To remember
remember
recall
think back
...
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5
transitive to experience something
It was the only comfort and warmth she had ever known.
have never known someone (to) do something:
I’ve never known her to make a joke.
Synonyms and related words
To experience something
experience
undergo
encounter
...
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6
transitive to have learned a poem, story, or song, so that you can say it or sing it
I still know the words to some of these hymns.
Synonyms and related words
To know something or someone
know
realize
have heard of
...
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7
intransitive/transitive to feel certain about something
know (that):
She knew it was Steven before she’d picked up the phone.
Synonyms and related words
To be certain
be clear that
know
believe in
...
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8
transitive to recognize someone or something
It was Henry: I would have known him anywhere.
Synonyms and related words
To notice or recognize something or someone
notice
recognize
observe
...
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9
that’s/it’s for me to know and you to find out
mind your own business
“Hey, who did you talk to last night?” “It’s for me to know and you to find out.”
Submitted by:
Artyom Khisamiev from Russian Federation on 30/07/2019
Open Dictionary – July2019
10
Who knew!
informal
used for saying that you have only just learned about something and are surprised by it
PBS have some really good shows by the way, who knew!
Apparently many Swedes change personalities when they are on vacation! Who knew!
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 23/06/2020
Open Dictionary – June2020

phrasal verbs

See also

Expressing yourself

Ways of saying I don’t know

Dunno	used informally, in spoken language
I have no idea/I haven’t a clue/I haven’t the faintest idea	used when you have no information and you are unable to guess the answer to a question
How should I know?/Don’t ask me/Search me	used when you do not know something and you feel annoyed that someone is asking you about it
It beats me	used for saying that you do not know or understand something
Who knows?/It’s anyone’s guess	used for saying that you don’t know something because it is impossible for anyone to know it
Your guess is as good as mine	used for saying that you know as little about something as the person who asked you about it
Not as far as I know	used for saying that something may be true, but you do not have enough information to know whether it is or not

Examples:

‘Are you coming out later?’ ‘Dunno. Depends on the weather.’

‘What time does the film start?’ ‘I have no idea. Why don’t you call the cinema?’ ♦ ‘I don’t suppose you know where Braganza Street is?’ ‘I haven’t a clue. Sorry.’ ♦ ‘Could somebody please explain how this car ended up in my driveway?’ ‘I haven’t the faintest idea.’

‘Who left this rubbish all over the table?’ ‘How should I know? I’ve only just come home.’ ♦ ‘Why didn’t he call me himself?’ ‘Don’t ask me. I’m only the messenger.’ ♦ ‘Why didn’t he say he wasn’t coming?’ ‘Search me. He never tells me anything.’

‘Why did he do such a stupid thing?’ ‘It beats me.’

‘When will this situation ever be resolved?’ ‘Who knows? It’s been going on for so long now.’ ♦ How the situation will develop from here is anyone’s guess.

‘Do you think the store will be open on Sunday?’ ‘Your guess is as good as mine.’

‘Has James left the company? I haven’t seen him for ages.’ ‘Not as far as I know, but I haven’t seen him recently either.’

Definition and synonyms of know from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education.

This is the British English definition of know.View American English definition of know.

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