Search results for 'know':

know verb (knew , known, knowing) 1 tr & intr (usually know something or know of or about something) to be aware of it; to be certain about it. 2 to have learnt and remembered something. 3 to have an understanding or grasp of something. 4 to be familiar with someone or something • know her well. 5 to be able to recognize or identify someone or something. 6 to be able to distinguish someone or something, or to tell them apart • wouldn't know him from Adam. 7 intrans to have enough experience or training • knew not to question him further. 8 to experience or be subject to something • has never known poverty. 9 old use, eg Bible to have sexual intercourse with someone. knowable adj capable of being known, discovered, or understood. Heaven or God knows colloq I have no idea. in the know colloq 1 having information not known to most people. 2 initiated. I wouldn't know I am not in a position to know. know all the answers to be fully informed on everything, or to think one is. know a thing or two colloq to be pretty shrewd. know better than to do something to be wiser, or better instructed, than to do it. know how many beans make five to be sensible or aware; to have one's wits about one. know the ropes to understand the detail or procedure. know what's what to be shrewd, wise or hard to deceive. know which side one's bread is buttered on to be fully aware of one's own best interests. let it be known to reveal, especially indirectly. make oneself known to introduce oneself. there's no knowing it's impossible to predict. what do you know? colloq an expression of surprise. you never know colloq it's not impossible; perhaps.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon cnawan.