Known

noʊn

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonState
1 meaning2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

1

Having information in one's mind; understood, recognized or familiar.

noʊn

verbneutralBeginner
State

Past participle of 'know'

She is known for her excellent cooking.

💡 Simply: It's like when you've heard something or seen something before, so you're not surprised. For example, if you go to the park and *know* it's going to be sunny.

👶 For kids: It means you already have the information about something in your brain.

More Examples

2

The artist is known worldwide for his abstract paintings.

3

The location is known to all residents of the town.

4

He was known to be a kind and helpful person.

How It's Used

General

"He is known for his generosity."

Legal

"The suspect was known to the police."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

be known as

To be recognized or identified by a particular name or characteristic.

"He is known as a skilled musician."

a known quantity

Something or someone whose characteristics, abilities, or outcomes are already established and predictable.

"With her track record, she's a known quantity for completing projects on time."

From Middle English *knawen*, past participle of *knowen* (to know), from Old English *cnāwan* (to know).

The past participle 'known' has existed in English since Old English, evolving from the verb 'cnāwan'.

Memory tip

Think of something you've learned and now *know*.

Word Origin

LanguageProto-Germanic
Original meaning

"to perceive, recognize, or understand"

widely knownwell knownbecome knownknown ascommonly known

Common misspellings

knoneknowen

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written