know

verb

/nəʊ/

not used in the progressive tenses

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they know	/nəʊ/ /nəʊ/
he / she / it knows	/nəʊz/ /nəʊz/
past simple knew	/njuː/ /nuː/
past participle known	/nəʊn/ /nəʊn/
knowing	/ˈnəʊɪŋ/ /ˈnəʊɪŋ/

Idioms

jump to other results

have information

[transitive, intransitive] to have information in your mind as a result of experience or because you have learned or been told it

know something No one knows the answer.
I need to know your name.
The truth about what happened is not yet known.
All I know is that she used to work in a bank (= I have no other information about her).
know (that)… I know (that) people’s handwriting changes as they get older.
We know from experience that turning a hobby into a business is not easy.
I know for a fact (that) he didn't go to the party.
‘There's no one in.’ ‘How do you know?’
‘You've got a flat tyre.’ ‘I know.’
‘What's the answer?’ ‘I don't know.’
As you know, Emma and I are old friends.
‘Isn’t that his car?’ ‘I wouldn’t know./How should I know?’ (= I don’t know and I am not the person you should ask.)
(informal) ‘What are you two whispering about?’ ‘You don't want to know’ (= because you would be shocked or wouldn't approve).
it is known that… It is widely known that CFCs can damage the ozone layer.
know where, who, etc… I knew where he was hiding.
No one knows for sure who did it.
know about something You know about Amanda's baby, don't you?
I don't know about you, but I'm ready for something to eat.
I know next to nothing (= know almost nothing) about opera.
know of somebody/something I know of someone who can help us.
‘Is anyone else coming?’ ‘Not that I know of.’
know to do something Does he know to come here (= that he should come here) first?
know somebody/something to be/do something We know her to be honest.
Strobe lights are known to cause seizures.

realize

[transitive, intransitive] to realize, understand or be aware of something

know (that)… As soon as I walked in the room I knew (that) something was wrong.
She knew she was dying.
‘Martin was lying all the time.’ ‘I should have known.’
know what, how, etc… I knew perfectly well what she meant.
I know exactly how you feel.
know something This case is hopeless and he knows it (= although he will not admit it).

Extra Examples

If only we'd known you were having so many problems!
You know very well what I'm talking about!
If I'd known beforehand how bad it would be, I wouldn't have gone.
I instantly knew what the call was about.
He knew instinctively where he would find her.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

exactly
precisely
immediately
…

phrases

the next thing I, he, etc. knew

See full entry

feel certain

[transitive, intransitive] to feel certain about something

know (that)… He knew (that) he could trust her.
I know it's here somewhere!
I know things will turn out all right.
I don't know that I can finish it by next week.
I just knew that it was something I wanted to do.
know (something) ‘You were right—someone's been spreading rumours about you.’ ‘I knew it!’
‘She's the worst player in the team.’ ‘Oh, I don't know (= I am not sure that I agree)—she played well yesterday.’

be familiar

[transitive] know somebody/something to be familiar with a person, place, thing, etc.

I've known David for 20 years.
Do you two know each other (= have you met before)?
She was a secretary when I first knew her.
She's very nice when you get to know her.
Knowing Ben, we could be waiting a long time (= it is typical of him to be late).
This man is known to the police (= as a criminal).
I don’t know anyone in Oxford.
I know Paris well.
Do you know the play (= have you seen or read it before)?
How many of your neighbours do you know by name?
The new rules could mean the end of football as we know it (= in the form that we are familiar with).

Extra Examples

He knows this city better than anyone.
I don't know them personally.
I don't know John very well.
But I hardly know the woman!
I know several people who could help.
The product our consumers know and love will not change.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

well
poorly
barely
…

verb + know

get to

preposition

phrases

be known to somebody
be widely known

See full entry

skill/language

[transitive] to have learned a skill or language and be able to use it

know something Do you know any Japanese?
know how to do something Do you know how to use spreadsheets?

reputation

[transitive, usually passive] to think that somebody/something is a particular type of person or thing or has particular characteristics

be known as something He has become widely widely known as an expert in child psychology.
It's known as the most dangerous part of the city.
be known for something She is best known for her work on the human brain.
He is internationally known for his work with vaccines.
be known to be/do something He's known to be an outstanding physicist.

give name

[transitive] [usually passive] to give somebody/something a particular name or title

be known as somebody/something Iran was formerly known as Persia.
The drug is commonly known as Ecstasy.
Peter Wilson, also known as ‘The Tiger’
be known as somebody/something to somebody He was known as Bonzo to his friends.
be known by something The country was not yet known by the name of England.

Extra Examples

parts of the body known collectively as the sensory system
The drug is variously known as crack or freebase.
He has been known by many names in his long life.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

commonly
popularly
affectionately
…

preposition

See full entry

recognize

[transitive] know somebody/something to be able to recognize somebody/something

I couldn't see who was speaking, but I knew the voice.
She knows a bargain when she sees one.

Synonyms identifyidentify

know
recognize
name
make somebody/something out

These words all mean to be able to see or hear somebody/something and especially to be able to say who or what they are.

identify
to be able to say who or what somebody/something is:
- She was able to identify her attacker.
know to be able to say who or what something is when you see or hear it because you have seen or heard it before Know is used especially to talk about sounds that seem familiar and when somebody recognizes the quality or opportunity that somebody/something represents: I couldn’t see who was speaking, but I knew the voice. • She knows a bargain when she sees one.
recognize
to know who somebody is or what something is when you see or hear them/it, because you have seen or heard them/it before:
- I recognized him as soon as he came in the room.
name
to say the name of somebody/something in order to show that you know who/what they are:
- The victim has not yet been named.
make somebody/something out
to manage to see or hear somebody/something that is not very clear:
- I could just make out a figure in the darkness.

Patterns

to identify/know/recognize somebody/something by something
to identify/recognize/name somebody/something as somebody/something
to identify/know/recognize/make out who/what/how…
to easily/barely/just identify/recognize/make out somebody/something

understand the difference

[transitive] know somebody/something from somebody/something to understand the difference between one person or thing and another synonym distinguish (1), tell (7)

I hope we have taught our children to know right from wrong.

experience

[transitive] (only used in the perfect tenses) to have seen, heard or experienced something

know somebody/something (to) do something I’ve never known it (to) snow in July before.
be known to do something He has been known to spend all morning in the bathroom.

[transitive] know something to have personal experience of something

He has known both poverty and wealth.
She may be successful now, but she has known what it is like to be poor.
She thought she would never know the joy of seeing a child grow up in her care.

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Word OriginOld English cnāwan (earlier gecnāwan) ‘recognize, identify’, of Germanic origin; from an Indo-European root shared by Latin (g)noscere, Greek gignōskein, also by can and ken.

Idioms

as far as I know | as far as I can remember, see, tell, etc.

used to say that you think you know, remember, understand, etc. something but you cannot be completely sure, especially because you do not know all the facts
- As far as we knew, there was no cause for concern.
- As far as I can see, you've done nothing wrong.
- She lived in Chicago, as far as I can remember.
see also AFAIKTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyc1

before you know where you are

very quickly or suddenly
- We were whisked off in a taxi before we knew where we were.

be not to know

to have no way of realizing or being aware that you have done something wrong
- ‘I'm sorry, I called when you were in bed.’ ‘Don't worry—you weren't to know.’

better the devil you know (than the devil you don’t)

(saying) used to say that it is easier and wiser to stay in a bad situation that you know and can deal with rather than change to a new situation that may be much worse

for all you, I, they, etc. know

(informal) used to emphasize that you do not know something and that it is not important to you
- She could be dead for all I know.

God/goodness/Heaven knows (informal) Some people may find this use of God offensive.

used to emphasize that you do not know something
- God knows what else they might find.
- ‘Where are they?’ ‘Goodness knows.’
used to emphasize the truth of what you are saying
- She ought to pass the exam—goodness knows she's been working hard enough.

have/know all the answers

(informal, often disapproving) to be confident that you know something, especially when you actually do not
- He thinks he knows all the answers.

have/know something off pat (British English)

(North American English have/know something down pat)

to know something perfectly so that you can repeat it at any time without having to think about it
- He had all the answers off pat.

have seen/known better days

(humorous) to be in poor condition
- Our car has seen better days!

I don’t know how, why, etc…

(informal) used to criticize somebody’s behaviour
- I don't know how you can say things like that.

if (the) truth be known/told

used to tell somebody the true facts about a situation, especially when these are not known by other people
- If the truth be known, I was afraid to tell anyone.

I know (informal)

/aɪ ˈnəʊ/

/aɪ ˈnəʊ/
used to agree with somebody or to show sympathy
- ‘What a ridiculous situation!’ ‘I know.’
Topics Opinion and argumenta2
/ˈaɪ nəʊ/

/ˈaɪ nəʊ/
used to introduce a new idea or suggestion
- I know, let's see what's on at the theatre.
Topics Suggestions and adviceb1

know something as well as I do

used to criticize somebody by saying that they should realize or understand something
- You know as well as I do that you're being unreasonable.

know somebody/something backwards

(especially British English, informal) to know somebody/something extremely well
- She must know the play backwards by now.

know best

to know what should be done, etc. better than other people
- The doctor told you to stay in bed, and she knows best.

know better (than that/than to do something)

to be sensible enough not to do something
- He knows better than to judge by appearances.

know somebody by sight

to recognize somebody without knowing them well

know different/otherwise

(informal) to have information or evidence that the opposite is true
- He says he doesn't care about what the critics write, but I know different.

know full well

to be very aware of a fact and unable to deny or ignore it
- He knew full well what she thought of it.

know somebody/something inside out | know somebody/something like the back of your hand

(informal) to be very familiar with somebody/something
- This is where I grew up. I know this area like the back of my hand.

know your own mind

to have very clear and definite ideas about what you want to do

know your stuff

(informal) to know a lot about a particular subject or job

know/tell somebody a thing or two (about somebody/something)

(informal) to know/tell somebody some useful, interesting or surprising information about somebody/something
- She's been married five times, so she knows a thing or two about men!

know/learn/find something to your cost

to know something because of something unpleasant that has happened to you
- He's a ruthless businessman, as I know to my cost.

know your way around

to be familiar with a place, subject, etc.

know what you’re talking about

(informal) to have knowledge about something from your own experience
- I’ve lived in China, so I know what I’m talking about.

know which side your bread is buttered

(informal) to know where you can get an advantage for yourself

let it be known/make it known that…

(formal) to make sure that people are informed about something, especially by getting somebody else to tell them
- The President has let it be known that he does not intend to run for election again.

let somebody know

to tell somebody about something
- I don't know if I can come, but I'll let you know tomorrow.
- Let me know how I can help.
- Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

Lord knows…

used to emphasize what you are saying
- Lord knows, I tried to teach her.

Lord (only) knows (what, where, why, etc.)…

(informal) used to say that you do not know the answer to something
- ‘Why did she say that?’ ‘Lord knows!’
Some people may find the use of Lord in these expressions offensive.

make yourself known to somebody

to introduce yourself to somebody
- I made myself known to the hotel manager.

not know any better

to behave badly, usually because you have not been taught the correct way to behave
- Don’t blame the children—they don’t know any better.

not know your arse from your elbow

(British English, taboo, slang) to be very stupid; to have absolutely no skill

not know beans about something

(North American English, informal) to know nothing about a subject
- I don’t know beans about making movies.

not know the first thing about somebody/something

to know nothing at all about somebody/something
- I’m afraid I don’t know the first thing about cars.

not know, etc. the first thing about something/somebody

to know nothing at all about something/somebody
- We’ve lived next to him for years, but we still don’t know the first thing about him.

not know somebody from Adam

(informal) to not know at all who somebody is

not know what hit you

(informal) to be so surprised by something that you do not know how to react

not know where to look

(informal) to feel very embarrassed and not know how to react

not know whether you’re coming or going

(informal) to be so excited or confused that you cannot behave or think in a sensible way

not know you are born

(British English, informal) to have an easy life without realizing how easy it is
- You people without kids don't know you're born.

not want to know (about something)

(informal) to take no interest in something because you do not care about it or it is too much trouble
- I've tried to ask her advice, but she doesn't want to know (= about my problems).
- ‘How much was it?’ ‘You don't want to know’ (= it is better if you don't know).

old enough to know better

old enough to behave in a more sensible way than you actually did

show somebody/know/learn the ropes

(informal) to show somebody/know/learn how a particular job should be done

there’s no knowing

used to say that it is impossible to say what might happen
- There's no knowing how he'll react.

what does… know?

used to say that somebody knows nothing about the subject you are talking about
- What does he know about football, anyway?

what do you know?

(informal) used to express surprise
- Well, what do you know? Look who's here!

(know) what’s what

(informal) (know) what things are useful, important, etc.
- She certainly knows what's what.

you know (informal)

used when you are thinking of what to say next
- Well, you know, it's difficult to explain.
used to show that what you are referring to is known or understood by the person you are speaking to
- Guess who I've just seen? Maggie! You know—Jim's wife.
- You know that restaurant round the corner? It's closed down.
used to emphasize something that you are saying
- I'm not stupid, you know.

you know something/what?

(informal) used to introduce an interesting or surprising opinion, piece of news, etc.
- You know something? I've never really enjoyed Christmas.
Topics Opinion and argumentc1

you know who/what

(informal) used to refer to somebody/something without mentioning a name

you never know

(informal) used to say that you can never be certain about what will happen in the future, especially when you are suggesting that something good might happenTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2, Suggestions and adviceb2