🧠 To have information 🤝 To be familiar 🛠️ To have skill 👀 To recognize ❤️ To have sex

to know

∞ 1.0

To have the skill to do something

verb
/noʊ/

: saber

What's the matter, Garlopis, don't you know how to open the door?
know how to read

All right, Now that I know how that goes.

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Examples

If you really were running short of food, you would know exactly what to do.

Evan Carmichael
Shelley: Yes, as a school librarian, I know I can learn from the public library sector.

Academic text (2013)
I want to know how to price my product.

Evan Carmichael
I need to know how to be straight.

I'm Not Gay : A Musical (2023)
But before you can do that, you need to know how and where to get started.

Academic text (2011)
To coordinate a program, schools first need to know what local and national resources exist.

Academic text (2013)
I promise once you get to know her, she's really nice.

#No_Filter (2022)
As strong musicians ourselves, we music teachers know the importance of collaboration in a rehearsal.

Academic text (2011)
For example, it would be helpful to know whether first-graders may benefit more than fifth-graders.

Academic text (2013)
To successfully complete the project, you must know how to use the software.

Synonyms

to have a handle on

vsto know

20 4.2

To understand something well enough to deal with it

focuses on having the skill to perform or do the task

Idioms

you know what

Informal

∞ 7.5

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

as you know

738 1.0

Tell someone that they already know this

in the know

Informal

23 8.1

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

to know the score

Informal

13 4.9

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

to know what is what

Informal

7 6.4

To understand what is really happening because of experience

to know what's what

Informal

7 6.7

To understand a situation or subject well

to know (someone) from Adam

5 9.4

To have no idea who a person is at all

it takes one to know one

Offensive

4 8.1

A reply saying the person who criticizes has the same fault

to know which end is up

Informal

1 7.8

To understand how things work in a place or job

to know someone from Adam

1 8.9

To not recognize a person at all

to know beans about

Informal

1 9.7

Have almost no idea about something

to know where the bodies are buried

Informal

1 9.9

To have secret information about hidden bad things in a group

to know someone from Eve

1 9.9

Not to know a person at all

if you know, you know

Slang

1 9.9

Only people with the same knowledge or experience understand this

to know someone from a can of paint

Informal

1 9.9

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

to know from a bar of soap

Informal

1 9.9

To not understand anything about a subject

to know each other's business

1 7.0

Be aware of other people's private lives

to know one's own mind

1 5.6

To be sure about what you want and act on it

to know where it's been

Informal

1 8.2

To understand if something is clean and where it has been

for me to know and you to find out

Informal

9.5

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

to know which side your bread is buttered on

Informal

9.1

Act to protect your own interests

to know your beans

9.1

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

poet and not know it

Informal

9.9

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

you know nothing, Jon Snow

Offensive

9.9

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

Phrasal Verbs

to know about

∞ 1.5

Have information about a person or situation

to let me know

663 1.8

Tell me when something changes or you have news

to never know

630 3.5

You cannot be sure what will happen

to know nothing

414 3.6

To have no idea about something

to know what's going on

320 3.1

To be aware of what is happening

to let us know

176 1.0

To tell us something so we can answer

to know by heart

26 2.6

Remember something so well that you can say it without reading

to know apart

Archaic

1 3.2

To tell the difference between two similar people or things

to know one's way around

1 4.8

Can find things and use a place or topic easily

Compounds

know-how

480 4.1

Practical skill and experience for doing technical tasks

know-it-all

Offensive

35 5.7

A person who thinks they are always right and annoys others

know-all

Offensive

35 7.7

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

need-to-know

Formal

26 7.7

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

need-to-know basis

Formal

15 5.5

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

know-nothing

Offensive

6 8.5

An insulting word for a person who has very little information

desire to know

3 3.5

A strong wish to learn new things about the world

Know-Nothing Party

Offensive

1 9.9

A 1850s American political party that opposed immigrants and Catholics

don't-know

Specialized

1 9.6

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

How Skilled

to master

181 4.1

to know

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

know infinitive

knowing present participle

knows third person singular

knew past

known past participle

Etymology

Know comes from an old word for 'have learned' or 'have in your mind', the same idea behind knowledge. That is why to 'know how' to do something means you have the skill or training to do it.