English Meaning & Definitions
The past tense of know; to have been aware of, familiar with, or possessing information about something.
- “She knew the answer before the teacher even finished asking the question.”
- “They knew each other when they were children growing up in the same neighborhood.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “knew”.
From Middle English knew, kneew, from Old English cnēow, past tense of cnāwan ("to know"). Ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic *knēwanan, from the Indo-European root *gno- ("to know"), shared with Latin gnoscere, Greek gignoskein, and Sanskrit jna.
Remember that 'knew' is the past tense of 'know'; both start with a silent 'k' and share the same letters as 'new' plus a 'k' for knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions About “knew”
1. What is the meaning of “knew” in English?
In English, knew (verb) is defined as: “The past tense of know; to have been aware of, familiar with, or possessing information about something.”.
2. How do you use “knew” in a sentence?
“She knew the answer before the teacher even finished asking the question.”
3. What are English synonyms of “knew”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “knew”?
From Middle English knew, kneew, from Old English cnēow, past tense of cnāwan ("to know"). Ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic *knēwanan, from the Indo-European root *gno- ("to know"), shared with Latin gnoscere, Greek gignoskein, and Sanskrit jna.
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