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know-how

know-how

136 4.1
Practical skill and experience for doing technical tasks
  • noun
  • /ˈnoʊˌhaʊ/
translation icon : saber hacer
  • Winning any tricky exposure battle takes technical know-how, evaluation skills, and just plain experience.
  • technical know-how
  • skills and know-how
  • technology and know-how

Examples

  • To succeed in this field, you need practical know-how about the latest technologies.

  • How much technological know-how was native to North Korea, Russia, or China may never be known.

    Academic text (2001)
  • But government cannot do this alone without the know-how and creativity of both the business world and civil society.

    Academic text (2002)
  • "His 'take a lift' strategy required using Western know-how and markets to foster the development of China.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Table 1 presents the 5 competencies and 3 skills for workplace know-how from the SCANS report.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Her extensive know-how in computer programming helped her solve the complex issues quickly.

  • The engineer's know-how was crucial for developing the new software application.

Synonyms

ability
vsknow-how
1.0

Skill or power to do something

is narrower stressing practical technical skill used to get things done
skill
vsknow-how
1.0

Ability to do something well because of practice or training

emphasizes practical problem solving and applied technical knowledge
expertise
vsknow-how
302 4.9

Special skill or knowledge in one area, for example law

is more focused on practical ability to perform tasks effectively
competence
vsknow-how
69 4.1

Ability to do a task well because of skill and knowledge

focuses more on effective hands on performance than formal qualification
technical expertise
vsknow-how
7 4.1

Skill and knowledge in a particular practical or scientific area

is more about practical hands on effectiveness in doing tasks
expertness
vsknow-how
6.4

High skill or knowledge in a specific area

is the practical use of that quality to achieve real results

Antonyms

316 3.9

Not knowing about something or how it works

92 4.4

Failing to do a job well because of lack of skill

How Skilled

mastery
37 4.2
expertise
302 4.9
know-how
136 4.1
skill
1.0
ability
1.0

Surface Forms

know-how singular
know-hows plural

Morphology

know-how = know + how (transparent) = know + how

A direct, productive compound of 'know' + 'how' whose meaning ('practical knowledge or skill') follows straightforwardly from its parts.

Etymology

The word know-how comes from two simple words, know ('to have knowledge') and how ('in what way'), so it means the practical knowledge or skill of 'how to do something'.