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Know vs. Sure — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Know and Sure

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Definitions

Know

Be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
I know what I'm doing
Most people know that CFCs can damage the ozone layer

Sure

Confident, as of something awaited or expected
I am sure we will win the game.

Know

Have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with
He knew and respected Laura

Sure

Impossible to doubt or dispute; certain
We have sure proof of his innocence.

Know

Have sexual intercourse with (someone).
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Sure

Bound to come about or happen; inevitable
A sure victory for the team.

Know

To perceive directly; grasp in the mind with clarity or certainty.

Sure

Having one's course directed; destined or bound
She is sure to succeed.

Know

To regard as true beyond doubt
I know she won't fail.

Sure

Certain not to miss, slip, or err; steady
A sure grip on the suitcase.
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Know

To have a practical understanding of, as through experience; be skilled in
Knows how to cook.

Sure

Not hesitating or wavering; firm
Sure convictions.

Know

To have fixed in the mind
Knows her Latin verbs.

Sure

Worthy of being trusted or depended on; reliable
A sure friend.

Know

To have experience of
“a black stubble that had known no razor” (William Faulkner).

Sure

Free from or marked by freedom from doubt
She is sure of her friends.

Know

To perceive as familiar; recognize
I know that face.

Sure

Careful to do something
Be sure to turn off the stove.

Know

To be acquainted with
He doesn't know his neighbors.

Sure

(Obsolete) Free from harm or danger; safe.

Know

To be able to distinguish; recognize as distinct
Knows right from wrong.

Sure

Surely; certainly.

Know

To discern the character or nature of
Knew him for a liar.

Sure

Physically secure and certain, non-failing, reliable.
This investment is a sure thing.
The bailiff had a sure grip on the prisoner's arm.

Know

(Archaic) To have sexual intercourse with.

Sure

Certain in one's knowledge or belief.
She is sure of herself.
He is sure she was lying.
He was sure of being a finalist.
They aren't completely sure who will attend.
You seemed sure that the car was his.

Know

To possess knowledge, understanding, or information.

Sure

(followed by a to infinitive) Certain to act or be a specified way.
Be sure to lock the door when you leave.

Know

To be cognizant or aware.

Sure

(obsolete) Free from danger; safe; secure.

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.

Sure

(obsolete) Betrothed; engaged to marry.

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.

Sure

(modal adverb) Without doubt, certainly.
Sure he's coming! Why wouldn't he?
"Did you kill that bear yourself?" ―"I sure did!"

Know

(transitive) To be acquainted or familiar with; to have encountered.
I know your mother, but I’ve never met your father.

Sure

(archaic) Without fail, surely.

Know

(transitive) To experience.
Their relationship knew ups and downs.

Sure

Yes, expressing noncommittal agreement or consent.
"Do you want me to put this in the garage?" "Sure, go ahead."

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.

Sure

Yes; of course.
"Could you tell me where the washrooms are?" "Sure, they're in the corner over there."

Know

(transitive) To recognize as the same (as someone or something previously encountered) after an absence or change.

Sure

You're welcome; polite response to being thanked.
"Thanks for helping me with that electrical fault." "Sure. Any time."

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.

Sure

Certainly knowing and believing; confident beyond doubt; implicity trusting; unquestioning; positive.
We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
I'm sure care 's an enemy of life.

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.’

Sure

Certain to find or retain; as, to be sure of game; to be sure of success; to be sure of life or health.

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.

Sure

Fit or worthy to be depended on; certain not to fail or disappoint expectation; unfailing; strong; permanent; enduring.
The Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord.
The testimony of the Lord is sure.
Which put in good sure leather sacks.

Know

(intransitive) To be or become aware or cognizant.
Did you know Michelle and Jack were getting divorced? ― Yes, I knew.

Sure

Betrothed; engaged to marry.
The king was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy, and her husband before God.
I presume . . . that you had been sure as fast as faith could bind you, man and wife.

Know

To be acquainted (with another person).

Sure

Free from danger; safe; secure.
Fear not; the forest is not three leagues off;If we recover that we are sure enough.
She that's made sure to him she loves not well.

Know

(transitive) To be able to play or perform (a song or other piece of music).
Do you know "Blueberry Hill"?

Sure

In a sure manner; safely; certainly.
'T is pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print.

Know

(rare) Knowledge; the state of knowing.

Sure

Having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured;
Felt certain of success
Was sure (or certain) she had seen it
Was very sure in his beliefs
Sure of her friends

Know

Knowledge; the state of knowing; now confined to the fixed phrase ‘in the know’

Sure

Exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance;
Be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through
Be sure to lock the doors

Know

Knee.

Sure

Certain to occur; destined or inevitable;
He was certain to fail
His fate is certain
In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes
He faced certain death
Sudden but sure regret
He is sure to win

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.

Sure

Physically secure or dependable;
A sure footing
Was on sure ground

Know

To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information.

Sure

Capable of being depended on;
A quick and certain remedy
A sure way to distinguish the two
Wood dust is a sure sign of termites

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.

Sure

(of persons) worthy of trust or confidence;
A sure (or trusted) friend

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.

Sure

Infallible or unfailing;
A sure (or true) sign of one's commitment

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.

Sure

Certain not to fail;
A sure hand on the throttle

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.

Sure

Impossible to doubt or dispute;
Indisputable (or sure) proof

Know

To be assured; to feel confident.

Sure

Definitely or positively (`sure' is sometimes used informally for `surely');
The results are surely encouraging
She certainly is a hard worker
It's going to be a good day for sure
They are coming, for certain
They thought he had been killed sure enough
He'll win sure as shooting
They sure smell good
Sure he'll come

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

Know

Know how to do or perform something;
She knows how to knit
Does your husband know how to cook?

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

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

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

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

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?

Know

Have sexual intercourse with;
This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm
Adam knew Eve
Were you ever intimate with this man?

Know

Know the nature or character of;
We all knew her as a big show-off

Know

Be able to distinguish, recognize as being different;
The child knows right from wrong

Know

Perceive as familiar;
I know this voice!

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