Cool MateKnow what vs Realize
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Know what
Top 2,000 (common)
Realize
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Realize
| Know what | Realize | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ wɒt//🇺🇸 //noʊ wɑt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəlaɪz//ˈrɪəlaɪz/","/ˈriːəlaɪzɪz//ˈrɪəlaɪzɪz/","/ˈriːəlaɪzd//ˈrɪəlaɪzd/","/ˈriːəlaɪzɪŋ//ˈrɪəlaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəlaɪz/","/ˈriːəlaɪzɪz/","/ˈriːəlaɪzd/","/ˈriːəlaɪzɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To understand or be aware of something. | To understand something clearly. |
| Example | Do you know what I mean? | I didn't realize how important that meeting was until it was too late. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | know what you mean, know what you're talking about, know what to do, know what I want, know what I said | fully, dimly, suddenly, begin to, come to, make somebody, with, without realizing (something) |
| Antonyms | - | ignore, overlook, miss |
| Common mistakes | 'Know what' is often confused with 'do you know'., Some learners forget to use it as a standalone phrase., Incorrectly use 'know what' without context, making it unclear. | Confusing 'realize' with 'realised' in British English., Using 'realize' without an object (e.g. 'I realized that' is correct)., Mixing up 'realize' with 'recognize'; they have different meanings. |
| Usage notes | Used in both spoken and written English. Common in informal conversations to clarify understanding. | Use 'realize' when you come to a new understanding or awareness of something. It's neutral and suitable for both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in very formal writing where 'become aware of' might be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Know what vs Realize
What's the difference between Know what and Realize?
Know what: To understand or be aware of something. Realize: To understand something clearly.
Which is more common: Know what and Realize?
Realize is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Know what: Do you know what I mean? Realize: I didn't realize how important that meeting was until it was too late.
Can I use Know what and Realize interchangeably?
Not always. Know what and Realize are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.