# know

/ˈnoʊ/ (US) · /nˈəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/know
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to have information

verb · CEFR A1

to have information in your mind or to be certain about a fact.

For teachers: to perceive the truth or factuality of something; to possess specific information with certainty.

- I know that the capital of France is Paris.
- The researchers know that the results of the study will be controversial, yet they feel obligated to publish their findings in full.

Usage: This is a stative verb and is rarely used in the progressive (-ing) form.

Teaching tip: Remind students that 'know' describes a state of mind, so 'I know' is correct even if the knowing is happening right now.

### 2. to be familiar with a person

verb · CEFR A1

to have met someone before and be friendly with them.

For teachers: to be acquainted or familiar with a person through previous encounter or social interaction.

- I have known my best friend since we were five years old.
- Although they had worked in the same building for years, they didn't truly get to know each other until the company retreat.

Usage: Takes a direct object (a person).

Teaching tip: In some languages, 'know' a person and 'know' a fact are different verbs. Ensure students use 'know' for both in English.

### 3. to have a skill

verb · CEFR A2

to have the skill or ability to do something, like speak a language or play a game.

For teachers: to possess a practical understanding or mastery of a skill, language, or subject through study or experience.

- Do you know how to fix a flat tire on a bicycle?
- She knows enough Mandarin to navigate the city and order meals, though she struggles with complex technical discussions.

Usage: Often followed by 'how to' plus a verb.

Teaching tip: Point out the 'know how to' construction for physical or technical skills.

### 4. to recognize

verb · CEFR B1

to see or hear someone and remember who they are.

For teachers: to identify or recognize someone or something previously encountered.

- I didn't know you with your new haircut.
- Even after twenty years apart, he knew her voice the moment she spoke his name across the crowded terminal.

### 5. to experience

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to have felt or lived through a particular situation or feeling.

For teachers: to have personal experience of a specific condition, emotion, or historical period.

- That generation knew great hardship during the war.
- The region has known little peace over the last century, as border disputes have repeatedly flared into open conflict.

### 6. having secret information

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

used in the phrase 'in the know' to mean you have special information that others do not have.

For teachers: the state of possessing inside information or specialized knowledge; restricted almost exclusively to the idiomatic phrase 'in the know'.

- People in the know say that the company is going to close soon.
- Those in the know suggest that the prime minister is planning a surprise cabinet reshuffle before the end of the fiscal year.

Usage: Used as part of the prepositional phrase 'in the know'.

Teaching tip: This is a common journalistic idiom. It implies the person has access to secrets or 'insider' details.

## Examples

- I know the answer to your question.
- She has lived in this city for ten years, so she knows the best places to eat.
- While many claim to know the truth about the incident, the evidence suggests that the actual sequence of events remains a mystery to everyone involved.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.