know

verb

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\ ˈnō

knew\ ˈnü

also ˈnyü \; known\ ˈnōn

\; knowing

Definition of know

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a(1) : to perceive directly : have direct cognition of

(2) : to have understanding of importance of knowing oneself

(3) : to recognize the nature of : discern

b(1) : to recognize as being the same as something previously known

(2) : to be acquainted or familiar with

(3) : to have experience of

2a : to be aware of the truth or factuality of : be convinced or certain of

b : to have a practical understanding of knows how to write

3 archaic : to have sexual intercourse with

intransitive verb

1 : to have knowledge

2 : to be or become cognizant —sometimes used interjectionally with you especially as a filler in informal speech

know from

: to have knowledge of didn't know from sibling rivalry— Penny Marshall

know

noun

Definition of know (Entry 2 of 2)

: knowledge

in the know

: in possession of exclusive knowledge or information broadly : well-informed

Other Words from know Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about know

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Examples of know in a Sentence

Verb He knows a lot about the history of the town. Do you know the answer? I don't know her name. Do you know what time it is? I don't know the words to that song. They knew a good deal about the problem. She knows the rules of the game. If you want the answer, ask someone who knows. I don't know much about art, but I know what I like. She knows that many people will not believe her.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The couples know their suffering is trivial compared to others. — Jamie L. Lareau, USA TODAY, "She hasn't seen her Canadian boyfriend in months. They want the same border rights as married couples.," 3 July 2020 Botanists know them as a genus of flowering plants in the arum family. — 1843, "Do you know a good... plant stylist?," 2 July 2020 The couples know their suffering is trivial compared to others. — Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, "These couples want the same right as married couples when crossing the border," 2 July 2020 When will Milwaukee know if the police chief is getting another term? — Elliot Hughes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission chairman appears to have used position to benefit developer accused of sexual assault," 2 July 2020 In the absence of that step, a reader would never know whether the choice of factors in the final model was changed mid-stream, or whether unfavorable analyses were done but not reported. — Hilda Bastian, Wired, "What the Data Really Says About Women Leaders and the Pandemic," 1 July 2020 Millions and millions know his guitar playing though. — Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, "Muscle Shoals music’s unsung guitar genius," 30 June 2020 But the parties know the uncertainty probably has as much to do with Netanyahu’s twin propensities for holding his cards close and dithering over difficult decisions. — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, "Israel’s Netanyahu still working out West Bank annexation plans," 30 June 2020 Diehard Gossip Girl fans know that Penn Badgley (Dan) and Blake Lively (Serena) dated both on screen and off in 2007. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Penn Badgley Just Told Some Funny Stories About When He and Blake Lively Dated," 30 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Maggie Anderson’s favorite class last summer was cooking, taught by a local teacher with chef know-how. — oregonlive, "Oregon summer school programs get creative to keep kids engaged," 29 June 2020 The partnership also has the advantage of drawing on the knowledge of companies already rich in health know-how, such as Eli Lilly and Co. and Anthem. — Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star, "Some states are seeing coronavirus cases skyrocket. We're not. At least not yet. Why?," 29 June 2020 Even Kate Middleton's floral dress perfectly suited the occasion as the brand is know for its sustainable fashion. — Natasha Reda, Glamour, "Kate Middleton Got Her Hands Dirty Planting Sunflowers for a Great Cause," 28 June 2020 All those not living in a cave know by now that social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and even Tinder have become vehicles for a veritable tsunami of mendacious and polarizing information. — Aziz Huq, Washington Post, "Political lies aren’t new, but the methods of spreading them are," 25 June 2020 While the agreement doesn’t call for the company to transport astronauts on its own vehicles, the collaboration with NASA expands Virgin Galactic’s capabilities and validates its know-how in areas such as astronaut training. — Esha Dey, Bloomberg.com, "Virgin Galactic Jumps on NASA Deal for Private Space Trips," 23 June 2020 While the agreement doesn’t call for the company to transport astronauts on its own vehicles, the collaboration with NASA expands Virgin Galactic’s capabilities and validates its know-how in areas such as astronaut training. — Fortune, "Virgin Galactic jumps on NASA deal for private space trips," 22 June 2020 The couple, who were used to more urban settings without yards, decided to hire Austin Outdoor Design to create a comfortable space for lounging that wouldn’t require a lot of maintenance or gardening know-how. — Nicole Villalpando, USA TODAY, "Austinites’ backyard oasis became ‘godsend’ during coronavirus," 19 June 2020 Some sunscreens will have a very clear expiration date on the bottle or tube, while others might take a little more sunscreen know-how in order to decipher what the seemingly random set of numbers mean. — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, "How To Tell If Your Sunscreen Is Expired," 17 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'know.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.