know

noun

UK /nəʊ/

know

noun

US /noʊ/

know

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

phrases

as we know it

as you know

for all I know

get to know

God/Goodness/Heaven knows

how should/do I know?

I don’t know

if you must know

I know

know something backwards/inside out

know best

know better

know your own mind

know what’s what

let someone know

not know whether you are coming or going

not want to know

what do you know

you don’t know

you know

phrasal verbs

know from

know of

know

verbnever progressive

US /noʊ/

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
If you don’t know the answer, just guess.
How do you know my name?
“Have they arrived yet?” “I don’t know.”
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
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
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 do something:
  Some drugs are known to cause damage to unborn children.
  know someone/something to be something:
  The pilots were experienced and known to be very competent.
  Synonyms and related words
  To know something or someone
  know
  realize
  have heard of
2
transitive to be familiar with someone, because you have met them or because you are friends
Some of you may know Ivan already.
She had known Nancy for years.
I felt I hardly knew my father.
Synonyms and related words
To spend time with friends
see
socialize
associate with
1. 2a
  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
2. 2b
  to be able to speak a language
  Do you know any Spanish?
  Synonyms and related words
  Speaking or translating other languages
  Anglo
  anglophone
  bilingual
3. 2c
  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
4. 2d
  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
3
transitive to use a particular name for someone or something
know someone/something as something:
The place was known as Boot Hill.
know someone/something by something:
They know all their professors by their first names.
Synonyms and related words
To name, or to have a particular name
name
call
christen
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 poetry.
Synonyms and related words
To remember
remember
recall
think back
5
transitive to experience something
It was the only comfort and warmth she had ever known.
have never known something:
He had never known anything like this intense feeling.
have never known someone (to) do something:
I’ve never known her to tell a joke.
Synonyms and related words
To experience something
experience
undergo
encounter
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
7
intransitive/transitive to feel certain about something
know (that):
She knew it was Steven before she picked up the phone.
Synonyms and related words
To be certain
be clear that
know
believe in
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
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

phrases

as we know it

as you know

for all I know

get to know

God/Goodness/Heaven knows

how should/do I know?

I don’t know

if you must know

I know

know something backwards/inside out

know best

know better

know your own mind

know what’s what

let someone know

not know whether you are coming or going

not want to know

what do you know

you don’t know

you know

you know what I mean?

phrasal verbs

know from

know of

know

in the know

know

in the know

know

that’s/it’s for me to know and you to find out

know

that’s/it’s for me to know and you to find out

know

in the know

know

in the know

know ​‌‌‌

that’s/it’s for me to know and you to find out

know ​‌‌‌

that’s/it’s for me to know and you to find out

know

know