A1verbhigh_frequency_chunk

Know

UK /["/nəʊ/","/nəʊz/","/njuː/","/nəʊn/","/ˈnəʊɪŋ/","/aɪ ˈnəʊ/","/ˈaɪ nəʊ/"]/US /["/nəʊ/","/nəʊz/","/nuː/","/nəʊn/","/ˈnəʊɪŋ/","/aɪ ˈnəʊ/","/ˈaɪ nəʊ/"]/

Definition

to have information in your mind as a result of experience or because you have learned or been told it

In simple words: To have information or understanding about something.

Examples

  • I know the answer to the question.
  • Do you know her from school?
  • I know how to ride a bike.
  • She wants to know more about the project.
  • I know a lot of interesting facts.

Usage notes

Use 'know' when talking about information or familiarity. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it too casually in professional settings.

Grammar pattern

know + object

Memory hint

Think of 'know' as 'knowledge' — if you know something, you have knowledge about it.

Collocations

  • full well
  • perfectly well
  • very well
  • let somebody
  • about
  • of
  • be widely known
  • know a lot, nothing, very little, etc.
  • you never know
  • exactly
  • precisely
  • immediately
  • the next thing I, he, etc. knew
  • exactly
  • precisely
  • immediately
  • the next thing I, he, etc. knew
  • well
  • poorly
  • barely
  • get to
  • for
  • be known to somebody
  • be widely known
  • commonly
  • popularly
  • affectionately
  • to

Synonyms

  • distinguish (1), tell (7)

Antonyms

  • ignorance
  • unawareness

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'no' (the opposite of yes).
  • Using 'knows' with 'we' instead of 'know'.
  • Saying 'I knowed' instead of 'I knew'.