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[nəʊ] (past tense knew [njuː] ; past participle known [nəʊn] ) verb I

1) [I/T] to have information about something, or to understand something

How do you know my name?[/ex]

‘Have they arrived yet?' ‘ I don't know.'[/ex]

If you don't know the answer, just guess.[/ex]

I knew she wasn't really happy.[/ex]

None of us really knew what had gone wrong.[/ex]

I don't know if she's made a decision yet.[/ex]

Do you know anything about computers?[/ex]

Some drugs are known to cause damage to unborn children.[/ex]

2) [T] to be familiar with someone or something, for example because you have met someone before or been to a place before

Do you know Terry Davis?[/ex]

Jane and I have known each other for years.[/ex]

Do you know Rome well?[/ex]

3) [I/T] to feel certain about something

She knew it was Steven before she'd picked up the phone.[/ex]

4) [T] to use a particular name for someone or something

They know all their tutors by their first names.[/ex]

The village was known as Garden Mill.[/ex]

5) [T] to remember someone because of a particular skill or quality

We know her mostly for her love poetry.[/ex]

He was best known as a painter.[/ex]

6) [T] to experience something

It was the only comfort and warmth she had ever known.[/ex]

I've never known her to make a joke.[/ex]

7) [T] to have learned a poem, story, or song, so that you can say it or sing it

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for all I know — used for emphasizing that you do not know something[/ex]

He could be a murderer for all I know.[/ex]

get to know — to start to be familiar with someone or something[/ex]

It took a while to get to know the city properly.[/ex]

how should I know? — spoken used for saying in an annoyed way that you do not know something[/ex]

I don't know — 1) used for politely disagreeing or giving your opinion[/ex]

'It'll be boring.' 'Oh I don't know, it might be fun.'[/ex]

+that I don't know that we need to discuss this.[/ex]

— 2) used for criticizing someone

+what/how/why etc I don't know how he could do that.[/ex]

I know — 1) used for agreeing with what someone says[/ex]

'He's a complete idiot.' 'Yeah, I know.'[/ex]

— 2) used for showing that you understand that there is a problem, but you do not think it is important

I know the plan is pretty rough, but you get the idea.[/ex]

— 3) used for showing that you understand someone and feel sympathy for them

I know how hard this is for you.[/ex]

— 4) used when you have a sudden idea

I know, let's go to the cinema instead.[/ex]

know best — to be in the best position to decide something[/ex]

know better — 1) to understand that you should not do something, because you are sensible or experienced[/ex]

She should know better than to try to fool him.[/ex]

— 2) to know that what someone else says or thinks is wrong

Everyone thought it was an innocent mistake, but I knew better.[/ex]

let sb know — to tell someone something[/ex]

Let us know what time your plane arrives.[/ex]

let sb know — to tell someone something[/ex]

Let me know when he arrives.[/ex]

not want to know — informal to refuse to listen to someone or get involved in something[/ex]

you know — spoken 1) used for emphasis[/ex]

Things are different now, you know.[/ex]

— 2) informalused while you think about what to say next

My whole leg was, you know, soaked in blood.[/ex]

— 3) used when you are giving extra information about something

Have you seen that bowl, you know, the blue one?[/ex]

— 4) used before you start to talk about a particular person or thing

You know the woman next door, well, she's expecting a baby.[/ex]

you never know — used for saying that something might happen even though it does not seem likely[/ex]

You never know - he might offer you a part in his film.[/ex]

you never know — spoken used for saying that something good might happen[/ex]

- know of sb/sth

Word family: know Words in the same family as know ● knowing adj ● known adj ● knowingly adv ● unknowingly adv ● knowledge n ● unknown adj ● knowledgeable adj II noun know [nəʊ] in the know — having more information about something than other people[/ex]