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!
