Know vs. Understand: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Knowing is being aware of information or facts, whereas understanding is comprehending the meaning or significance of what is known.
Key Differences
Knowing is having awareness or familiarity with facts or information. Understanding goes deeper, involving the comprehension of how and why things are.
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Dec 06, 2023
To know something often means having surface-level information. To understand something implies a deeper grasp of the underlying principles or concepts.
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Dec 06, 2023
Knowledge is often about accumulating facts. Understanding is about gaining insights and seeing the connections between these facts.
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Dec 06, 2023
Knowing can involve memorizing data or information. Understanding is about being able to apply and reason with this knowledge in various contexts.
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Dec 06, 2023
Knowledge is acquired through learning and experience. Understanding is the interpretation and internalization of that knowledge.
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Dec 06, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Awareness or familiarity with information.
Deep comprehension of the meaning or significance.
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Process
Involves memorization or learning.
Involves interpretation and application.
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Application
Having information.
Being able to use and reason with the information.
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Know and Understand Definitions
Know
Be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information.
I know the capital of France is Paris.
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Dec 06, 2023
Understand
Perceive the intended meaning of.
I understand the instructions now.
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Dec 06, 2023
Know
Have knowledge or information concerning.
She knows a lot about ancient history.
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Dec 06, 2023
Understand
Grasp the significance, implications, or importance of something.
He understands the risks involved in the surgery.
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Dec 06, 2023
Know
Be absolutely certain or sure about something.
I know I left my keys on the table.
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Dec 06, 2023
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Understand
Be sympathetically or knowledgeably aware of the character or nature of.
She understands the challenges of starting a new business.
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Dec 06, 2023
Know
Have developed a relationship with someone through meeting and spending time with them.
I know him from school.
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Dec 06, 2023
Understand
Infer something from information received.
I understand that the meeting has been postponed.
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Dec 06, 2023
Understand
To become aware of the nature and significance of; know or comprehend
She understands the difficulty involved.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To become aware of the intended meaning of (a person or remark, for example)
We understand what they're saying.
We just disagree with it. When he began describing his eccentric theories, we could no longer understand him.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To have a practical understanding of, as through experience; be skilled in
Knows how to cook.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To know and be tolerant or sympathetic toward
Hoped that they would understand my complaint.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To know thoroughly by close contact or long experience with
That teacher understands children. I understand the basics of car repair.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To have experience of
“a black stubble that had known no razor” (William Faulkner).
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To learn indirectly or infer, as from hearsay
I understand his departure was unexpected. Am I to understand you are staying the night?.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To assume to be or accept as agreed
It is understood that the fee will be $50.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To supply or add (words or a meaning, for example) mentally
A verb is understood at the end of the statement "Yes, let's.".
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To be able to distinguish; recognize as distinct
Knows right from wrong.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
(transitive) To grasp a concept fully in one's mind, especially (of words, statements, art, etc.) to be aware of the meaning of and (of people) to be aware of the intent of.
I'm sorry. I don't understand.
Please try to understand. It's not you, it's me.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To believe, to think one grasps sufficiently despite potentially incomplete knowledge.
I understand that you have a package for me?
In the imperative mood, the word “you” is usually understood.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
(transitive) To perceive the truth or factuality of; to be certain of or that.
I know that I’m right and you’re wrong.
He knew something terrible was going to happen.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
(transitive) To be aware of; to be cognizant of.
Did you know Michelle and Jack were getting divorced? ― Yes, I knew.
She knows where I live.
I knew he was upset, but I didn't understand why.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To have just and adequate ideas of; to apprehended the meaning or intention of; to have knowledge of; to comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in Euclid; to understand a proposition or a declaration; the court understands the advocate or his argument; to understand the sacred oracles; to understand a nod or a wink.
Speaketh [i. e., speak thou] so plain at this time, I you pray,That we may understande what ye say.
I understand not what you mean by this.
Understood not all was but a show.
A tongue not understanded of the people.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
(transitive) To be acquainted or familiar with; to have encountered.
I know your mother, but I’ve never met your father.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To be apprised, or have information, of; to learn; to be informed of; to hear; as, I understand that Congress has passed the bill.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To recognize or hold as being or signifying; to suppose to mean; to interpret; to explain.
The most learned interpreters understood the words of sin, and not of Abel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
(transitive) To be able to distinguish, to discern, particularly by contrast or comparison; to recognize the nature of.}}
To know a person's face or figure
To know right from wrong
I wouldn't know one from the other.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To mean without expressing; to imply tacitly; to take for granted; to assume.
War, then, war,Open or understood, must be resolved.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
(transitive) To recognize as the same (as someone or something previously encountered) after an absence or change.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To understand or have a grasp of through experience or study.
Let me do it. I know how it works.
She knows how to swim.
His mother tongue is Italian, but he also knows French and English.
She knows chemistry better than anybody else.
Know your enemy and know yourself.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To have the use of the intellectual faculties; to be an intelligent being.
Imparadised in you, in whom aloneI understand, and grow, and see.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To have sexual relations with. This meaning normally specified in modern English as e.g. to ’know someone in the biblical sense’ or to ‘know biblically.’
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
To be informed; to have or receive knowledge.
I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
(intransitive) To have knowledge; to have information, be informed.
It is vital that he not know.
She knew of our plan.
He knows about 19th century politics.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
Know and comprehend the nature or meaning of;
She did not understand her husband
I understand what she means
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
(intransitive) To be or become aware or cognizant.
Did you know Michelle and Jack were getting divorced? ― Yes, I knew.
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
Perceive (an idea or situation) mentally;
Now I see!
I just can't see your point
Does she realize how important this decision is?
I don't understand the idea
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
Make sense of a language;
She understands French
Can you read Greek?
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
(transitive) To be able to play or perform (a song or other piece of music).
Do you know "Blueberry Hill"?
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
Believe to be the case;
I understand you have no previous experience?
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Knowledge; the state of knowing; now confined to the fixed phrase ‘in the know’
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Oct 19, 2023
Understand
Interpret or view something in a particular way.
She understood his silence as agreement.
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Dec 06, 2023
Know
To perceive or apprehend clearly and certainly; to understand; to have full information of; as, to know one's duty.
O, that a man might knowThe end of this day's business ere it come!
There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know it.
Know how sublime a thing it isTo suffer and be strong.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To be acquainted with; to be no stranger to; to be more or less familiar with the person, character, etc., of; to possess experience of; as, to know an author; to know the rules of an organization.
He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To recognize; to distinguish; to discern the character of; as, to know a person's face or figure.
Ye shall know them by their fruits.
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him.
To knowFaithful friend from flattering foe.
At nearer view he thought he knew the dead.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To have sexual intercourse with.
And Adam knew Eve his wife.
And I knew that thou hearest me always.
The monk he instantly knew to be the prior.
In other hands I have known money do good.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
To have knowledge; to have a clear and certain perception; to possess wisdom, instruction, or information; - often with of.
Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
The peasant folklore of Europe still knows of willows that bleed and weep and speak when hewn.
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about;
I know that the President lied to the people
I want to know who is winning the game!
I know it's time
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Know how to do or perform something;
She knows how to knit
Does your husband know how to cook?
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Be aware of the truth of something; have a belief or faith in something; regard as true beyond any doubt;
I know that I left the key on the table
Galileo knew that the earth moves around the sun
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Be familiar or acquainted with a person or an object;
She doesn't know this composer
Do you know my sister?
We know this movie
I know him under a different name
This flower is known as a Peruvian Lily
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations;
I know the feeling!
Have you ever known hunger?
I have lived a kind of hell when I was a drug addict
The holocaust survivors have lived a nightmare
I lived through two divorces
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Know
Accept (someone) to be what is claimed or accept his power and authority;
The Crown Prince was acknowledged as the true heir to the throne
We do not recognize your gods
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Have fixed in the mind;
I know Latin
This student knows her irregular verbs
Do you know the poem well enough to recite it?
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Have sexual intercourse with;
This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm
Adam knew Eve
Were you ever intimate with this man?
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Be able to distinguish, recognize as being different;
The child knows right from wrong
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Oct 19, 2023
Know
Be familiar or acquainted with something.
He knows how to speak Spanish fluently.
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Dec 06, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does it mean to understand something?
It means comprehending the deeper meaning or significance of what is known.
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Dec 06, 2023
Does knowing require learning?
Yes, knowing often involves acquiring information through learning or experience.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
What does it mean to know something?
It means being aware of or familiar with information or facts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
Can you know something without understanding it?
Yes, it's possible to be aware of facts without fully comprehending them.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can knowledge exist without understanding?
Yes, one can have knowledge (facts, information) without a deeper understanding of it.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is understanding always based on knowledge?
Yes, understanding typically builds upon the knowledge one has.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can understanding change with new information?
Yes, understanding can evolve with new insights or information.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is understanding more than just having information?
Yes, it involves a deeper grasp of the context and implications of that information.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is it easier to know or to understand?
Generally, it's easier to know (acquire facts) than to understand (comprehend deeply).
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Dec 06, 2023
Does understanding imply a level of expertise?
Not necessarily expertise, but it does imply a deeper level of comprehension.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is "know" related to factual information only?
No, "know" can also pertain to familiarity with a person, place, or thing.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 06, 2023
Can you provide an example where both "know" and "understand" are used in the same sentence?
"I know the rules of the game, but I don't understand why they're important."
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Dec 06, 2023
Can you "know" something without "understanding" it?
Yes, you can be aware of information without fully comprehending its meaning.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can you "know" everything without "understanding" everything?
No, there are limits to what one can know or understand.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can "knowing" lead to "understanding"?
Yes, knowing information can be a stepping stone to understanding it.
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Dec 06, 2023
What does "knowing something like the back of your hand" mean?
It means being extremely familiar with something or knowing it very well.
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Dec 06, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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