known: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (A1/A2)Neutral (used in all registers)
Quick answer
What does “known” mean?
Past participle of 'know'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Past participle of 'know'; something or someone that is recognized, understood, or established as a fact or truth.
Familiar to people; publicly acknowledged; having a reputation; possessing information or awareness; in mathematics, a value that is established or given.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling is identical. Differences appear in surrounding vocabulary and occasionally in usage of certain phrases (e.g., 'well-known' hyphenation rules are generally the same).
Connotations
Identical in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “known” in a Sentence
be known to [VERB] (He is known to work late)be known for [NOUN/VERB-ing] (She is known for her generosity)be known as [NOUN] (He is known as a specialist)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “known” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I have known her for years.
- The results should have been known by now.
- He is widely known to collect rare books.
American English
- I've known him since college.
- The answer has been known for weeks.
- She is known to arrive early.
adjective
British English
- He gave a talk on a known health risk.
- The only known specimen is in the museum.
- It's a well-known fact.
American English
- She is a known authority on the subject.
- There is no known cure for the disease.
- A little-known restaurant downtown is fantastic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to established entities or facts: 'The company is a known supplier in the market.'
Academic
Used to refer to established facts or literature: 'This is a known phenomenon described in several papers.'
Everyday
Commonly used: 'He is a known figure in the community.' 'She is known to be very helpful.'
Technical
In math/science: 'Given the known values, we can calculate the result.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “known”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “known”
- Using 'knowed' as past participle (incorrect).
- Confusing 'known' with 'knowing' (participle vs. gerund/adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily the past participle of the verb 'know'. However, it is very commonly used as an adjective (e.g., 'a known fact', 'a well-known singer').
'Known' has a broader meaning. Something can be 'known' to a small group (e.g., 'known only to experts'), while 'famous' implies being known by many people, often publicly celebrated.
Use 'have/has/had' + 'known'. For example: present perfect 'I have known', past perfect 'She had known', future perfect 'They will have known'.
It is hyphenated when it comes before a noun (a well-known author) but often not hyphenated after a verb (The author is well known). Check specific style guides, but this is the common rule.
Past participle of 'know'.
Known is usually neutral (used in all registers) in register.
Known: in British English it is pronounced /nəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /noʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a known quantity”
- “let it be known”
- “make oneself known”
- “the known world”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'kn' in 'knight' or 'knee' - silent 'k'. It's the past participle of 'know', and something 'known' is no longer a 'knot' of mystery (play on silent 'k' sound).
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWING IS SEEING ('I see what you mean' / 'It became known'), KNOWING IS POSSESSING ('He has knowledge').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'known' correctly as an adjective?