known

adjective

ˈnōn How to pronounce known (audio)
Synonyms of knownnext
: generally recognized
a known authority on art

Examples of known in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The park is well known for its foliage, so fall is a great time to climb Mount Tom or discover other stretches of more than 20 miles of hiking trails. — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 And while those 22 days may be what McHenry became most known for, his political career started long before that moment. — Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026 The venue has also become known for its commitment to artists, returning 70% of ticket revenue directly to performers from the first ticket sold. — Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026 Head coach Carlos Queiroz has become well known for his tactical knowhow on the defensive end and will look to thwart Colombia’s many offensive talents. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for known

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of known was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing known

Rhymes for known

See All Rhymes for known

Browse Nearby Words

Knowles
known
know no bounds
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Known.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/known. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

known

adjective
ˈnōn How to pronounce known (audio)
: generally recognized
a known expert on art

More from Merriam-Webster on known

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for known

Nglish: Translation of known for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All