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to know

to know

1.0
To recognize a person or thing you have seen before
  • verb
  • /noʊ/
translation icon : reconocer
  • You totally know who he is, that guy.
  • know the name
  • immediately know

And then you know who gave you the edible?

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Examples

  • But who over there knows who this is?

  • At any given moment, each child knew exactly what to do and where to do it.

    Academic text (2012)
  • I asked the participants what they knew about music programs for their children.

    Academic text (2013)
  • In short, in a few years we will know more about the Arctic than ever before.

    Academic text (2008)
  • I'd like to know what you think of cats.

  • The smartest people I know are the most humble.

  • "My only regret is that Gene Merchant, whom I knew professionally, passed away in 2006."

    Academic text (2011)
  • I know you from our meetings at the conference last year.

  • She knows the difference between right and wrong very well.

  • Do you know her from the charity event we attended?

Synonyms

to identify
vsto know
1.8

Say who someone is or what something is

is about being aware rather than formal proof
to recognize
vsto know
  • US
1.4

To see or hear someone and know who they are

is broad awareness beyond repeated sensing
to sense
vsto know
629 4.2

To notice something by feeling or by using a tool

is focused on recognizing particular items rather than mere detection
to perceive
vsto know
369 3.0

To become aware of something in your mind and understand it

is about identifying specific items rather than general sensing
to distinguish
vsto know
177 3.1

To notice differences between things or people

is broader, covering general awareness not only contrasting
to discern
vsto know
70 5.8

To notice something that is hard to see or hear

is broader general awareness, not limited to difficult cases
to discriminate
vsto know
31 4.2

To notice small differences between things

is the basic act of awareness, not categorizing by difference
to cognize
vsto know
1 9.6

To notice and understand something in your mind

is more about telling one thing from another, not just mental notice
to know apart
vsto know
  • Archaic
3.2

To tell the difference between two similar people or things

is general awareness rather than focused comparison

Idioms

you know what
  • Informal
797 7.5

To say something new or surprising to get someone's attention

220 1.0

Tell someone that they already know this

in the know
  • Informal
20 8.1

A person who knows secret or new information most people do not have

15 6.7

To understand a situation or subject well

11 4.9

Understand what really happens in a situation, often when it is bad

To be sure about what you want and act on it

To have secret information about hidden bad things in a group

1 7.8

To understand how things work in a place or job

1 8.2

To understand if something is clean and where it has been

1 9.7

Have almost no idea about something

1 6.4

To understand what is really happening because of experience

Act to protect your own interests

To have no idea who a person is at all

Not to know a person at all

Said when someone will not tell and the other person must find out

Be aware of other people's private lives

To not understand anything about a subject

To be an expert in a subject like cooking or computers

to know one's shit
  • Offensive
9.9

To have a lot of skill and information about a subject

To not recognize a person at all

To not recognize someone at all because you have never met them

Only people with the same knowledge or experience understand this

8.1

A reply saying the person who criticizes has the same fault

9.9

A person who says or writes something that sounds like a poem without knowing it

Say someone does not know about something, often as a joke

Phrasal Verbs

1.5

Have information about a person or situation

637 1.8

Tell me when something changes or you have news

366 3.5

You cannot be sure what will happen

To be aware of what is happening

279 3.6

To have no idea about something

155 1.0

To tell us something so we can answer

Can find things and use a place or topic easily

Remember something so well that you can say it without reading

to know apart
  • Archaic
3.2

To tell the difference between two similar people or things

Compounds

don't-know
  • Specialized
588 9.6

A person who answers 'I don't know' to a question in a poll or survey

136 4.1

Practical skill and experience for doing technical tasks

need-to-know
  • Formal
84 7.7

Information given only to people who must have it for their work

know-it-all
  • Offensive
28 5.7

A person who thinks they are always right and annoys others

12 5.5

A rule that gives information only to people who need it for their work

know-all
  • Offensive
9 7.7

A person who acts like they have all the answers and won't listen to others

know-nothing
  • Offensive
5 8.5

An insulting word for a person who has very little information

A strong wish to learn new things about the world

Know-Nothing Party
  • Offensive
9.9

A 1850s American political party that opposed immigrants and Catholics

How Recognizable

to know
1.0
to recognize
  • US
1.4
to notice
1.0

Surface Forms

know infinitive
knowing present participle
knows third person singular
knew past
known past participle

Etymology

Know comes from an ancient root that also meant 'recognize', seen in words like known and knowledge. That's why to 'know' a voice or a face means you can recognize or identify it.