Think vs. Know — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 16, 2024
Thinking involves processing or considering something, often with uncertainty, while knowing is having a clear, certain understanding or awareness of facts.
Difference Between Think and Know
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Thinking is an active process where ideas or possibilities are contemplated, often without certainty. It involves reasoning, reflecting, or pondering over something, suggesting a level of uncertainty or exploration. Know, on the other hand, implies a definite understanding or awareness, often based on experience, education, or evidence. It signifies having facts or information about something, leaving little room for doubt.
Thinking often precedes knowing, as the act of contemplating or considering various aspects of a topic can lead to a clearer understanding or knowledge. While one might think about the implications of a new policy, they come to know its effects through observation, data, or firsthand experience.
In the realm of belief and opinion, thinking can reflect a personal stance or perspective that may not be universally acknowledged as true. Knowing, however, relates more to universally accepted facts or truths that are verifiable and not subject to individual interpretation.
The transition from thinking to knowing can be marked by the acquisition of evidence, learning, or personal experience. As individuals gather more information and gain experience, what was once a thought or hypothesis can become known fact or truth.
Comparison Chart
Certainty
Involves uncertainty and speculation.
Implies certainty and a firm understanding.
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Basis
Can be based on opinion or limited information.
Often based on evidence, experience, or education.
Process
Involves contemplation, consideration, or reasoning.
Involves understanding or awareness of facts.
Relationship
Precedes knowing; is part of the process of acquiring knowledge.
Results from having processed information or having experience.
Nature
Reflective and subjective.
Objective and factual.
Compare with Definitions
Think
Considering or pondering over possibilities or ideas.
I think I'll go for a walk to clear my head.
Know
Being aware of information or facts.
I know the answer to your question.
Think
Weighing different options or aspects before making a decision.
I need to think about your offer before I can give you an answer.
Know
Being able to identify or acknowledge something as true.
He knows a good opportunity when he sees one.
Think
Expressing a personal belief or stance that may not be based on fact.
I think that movie was the best of the year.
Know
Having firsthand or direct understanding through experience.
I know what it's like to lose a loved one.
Think
Formulating a tentative explanation or theory.
Scientists think that dark matter makes up most of the universe.
Know
Having a deep understanding of a subject or field.
She knows French literature inside out.
Think
Engaging in the consideration of potential outcomes without certainty.
I think it might rain later, based on the clouds.
Know
Possessing assured knowledge without doubt.
I know for sure that the store closes at 6 PM.
Think
To have or formulate in the mind
Think the happiest thought you can think.
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
Think
To reason about or reflect on; ponder
Think how complex language is. Think the matter through.
Know
Have developed a relationship with (someone) through meeting and spending time with them; be familiar or friendly with
He knew and respected Laura
Think
To decide by reasoning, reflection, or pondering
Thinking what to do.
Know
To perceive directly; grasp in the mind with clarity or certainty.
Think
To judge or regard; look upon
I think it only fair.
Know
To regard as true beyond doubt
I know she won't fail.
Think
To believe; suppose
Always thought he was right.
Know
To have a practical understanding of, as through experience; be skilled in
Knows how to cook.
Think
To expect; hope
They thought she'd arrive early.
Know
To have fixed in the mind
Knows her Latin verbs.
Think
To intend
She thinks to defeat the incumbent in the election.
Know
To have experience of
“a black stubble that had known no razor” (William Faulkner).
Think
To call to mind; remember
I can't think what her name was.
Know
To perceive as familiar; recognize
I know that face.
Think
To visualize; imagine
Think what a scene it will be at the reunion.
Know
To be acquainted with
He doesn't know his neighbors.
Think
To devise or evolve; invent
Thought up a plan to get rich quick.
Know
To be able to distinguish; recognize as distinct
Knows right from wrong.
Think
To bring into a given condition by mental preoccupation
He thought himself into a panic over the impending examination.
Know
To discern the character or nature of
Knew him for a liar.
Think
To concentrate one's thoughts on; keep as a point of focus
Think victory.
Know
To possess knowledge, understanding, or information.
Think
To exercise the power of reason, as by conceiving ideas, drawing inferences, and using judgment
My cold made it difficult to think.
Know
To be cognizant or aware.
Think
To consider or weigh an idea
They are thinking about moving.
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.
Think
To bring a thought to mind by using the imagination
No one before had thought of bifocal glasses.
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.
Think
To recall a thought or an image to mind
She thought of her childhood when she saw the movie.
Know
(transitive) To be acquainted or familiar with; to have encountered.
I know your mother, but I’ve never met your father.
Think
To have a belief, supposition, or opinion
He thinks of himself as a wit. It's later than you think.
Know
(transitive) To experience.
Their relationship knew ups and downs.
Think
To have care or consideration
Think first of the ones you love.
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.
Think
To use the mind in a certain way
He thinks just like you do—always worrying.
Know
(transitive) To recognize as the same (as someone or something previously encountered) after an absence or change.
Think
Requiring much thought to create or assimilate
A think book.
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.
Think
The act or an instance of deliberate or extended thinking; a meditation.
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.
Think
(transitive) To ponder, to go over in one's head.
Idly, the detective thought what his next move should be.
Know
(intransitive) To be or become aware or cognizant.
Did you know Michelle and Jack were getting divorced? ― Yes, I knew.
Think
(intransitive) To communicate to oneself in one's mind, to try to find a solution to a problem.
I thought for three hours about the problem and still couldn’t find the solution.
Know
To be acquainted (with another person).
Think
(intransitive) To conceive of something or someone (usually followed by of; infrequently, by on).
I tend to think of her as rather ugly.
Know
(transitive) To be able to play or perform (a song or other piece of music).
Do you know "Blueberry Hill"?
Think
(transitive) To be of opinion (that); to consider, judge, regard, or look upon (something) as.
At the time I thought his adamant refusal to give in right.
I hope you won’t think me stupid if I ask you what that means.
I think she is pretty, contrary to most people.
Boxing is thought to be a dangerous sport.
Know
(rare) Knowledge; the state of knowing.
Think
(transitive) To guess; to reckon.
I think she’ll pass the examination.
Know
Knowledge; the state of knowing; now confined to the fixed phrase ‘in the know’
Think
To plan; to be considering; to be of a mind (to do something).
Know
Knee.
Think
To presume; to venture.
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.
Think
To seem, to appear.
Know
To be convinced of the truth of; to be fully assured of; as, to know things from information.
Think
An act of thinking; consideration (of something).
I'll have a think about that and let you know.
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.
Think
To seem or appear; - used chiefly in the expressions methinketh or methinks, and methought.
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.
Think
To employ any of the intellectual powers except that of simple perception through the senses; to exercise the higher intellectual faculties.
For that I amI know, because I think.
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.
Think
To call anything to mind; to remember; as, I would have sent the books, but I did not think of it.
Well thought upon; I have it here.
Know
To be assured; to feel confident.
Think
To reflect upon any subject; to muse; to meditate; to ponder; to consider; to deliberate.
And when he thought thereon, he wept.
He thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
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
Think
To form an opinion by reasoning; to judge; to conclude; to believe; as, I think it will rain to-morrow.
Let them marry to whom they think best.
Know
Know how to do or perform something;
She knows how to knit
Does your husband know how to cook?
Think
To purpose; to intend; to design; to mean.
I thought to promote thee unto great honor.
Thou thought'st to help me.
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
Think
To presume; to venture.
Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father.
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
Think
To conceive; to imagine.
Charity . . . thinketh no evil.
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
Think
To believe; to consider; to esteem.
Nor think superfluous other's aid.
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
Think
Act of thinking; a thought.
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?
Think
An instance of deliberate thinking;
I need to give it a good think
Know
Know the nature or character of;
We all knew her as a big show-off
Think
Judge or regard; look upon; judge;
I think he is very smart
I believe her to be very smart
I think that he is her boyfriend
The racist conceives such people to be inferior
Know
Be able to distinguish, recognize as being different;
The child knows right from wrong
Think
Expect, believe, or suppose;
I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
I thought to find her in a bad state
He didn't think to find her in the kitchen
I guess she is angry at me for standing her up
Know
Perceive as familiar;
I know this voice!
Think
Use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments;
I've been thinking all day and getting nowhere
Think
Recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection;
I can't remember saying any such thing
I can't think what her last name was
Can you remember her phone number?
Do you remember that he once loved you?
Call up memories
Think
Imagine or visualize;
Just think--you could be rich one day!
Think what a scene it must have been!
Think
Focus one's attention on a certain state;
Think big
Think thin
Think
Have in mind as a purpose;
I mean no harm
I only meant to help you
She didn't think to harm me
We thought to return early that night
Think
Decide by pondering, reasoning, or reflecting;
Can you think what to do next?
Think
Ponder; reflect on, or reason about;
Think the matter through
Think how hard life in Russia must be these days
Think
Dispose the mind in a certain way;
Do you really think so?
Think
Have or formulate in the mind;
Think good thoughts
Think
Be capable of conscious thought;
Man is the only creature that thinks
Think
Bring into a given condition by mental preoccupation;
She thought herself into a state of panic over the final exam
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to think about something?
Thinking about something means to contemplate, consider, or deliberate over it, often without having full certainty.
Is thinking always based on facts?
No, thinking is not always based on facts; it can also be based on opinions, assumptions, or incomplete information.
Is knowing always certain?
Knowing is generally associated with certainty, especially in the context of factual information or firsthand experience.
Can you know something without thinking about it first?
Yes, it's possible to know something without consciously thinking about it first, especially if the knowledge is acquired through direct experience or learning.
Do all thoughts lead to knowledge?
Not all thoughts lead to knowledge, as some thoughts may remain speculative or unverified.
Is it possible to think you know something but be incorrect?
Yes, it's possible to think you know something but be incorrect, especially if the knowledge is based on false information or misconceptions.
How do culture and education impact what we think and know?
Culture and education shape our perspectives, influence our thinking patterns, and determine the breadth and depth of our knowledge.
Can thinking lead to knowing?
Yes, thinking can lead to knowing as it involves processing information, which can result in gaining knowledge or certainty about a subject.
How do emotions influence thinking and knowing?
Emotions can influence thinking by affecting decision-making and perception, but knowing, being based on facts, is less susceptible to emotional influence.
What does knowing something imply?
Knowing something implies having a clear and certain understanding or awareness of it, often based on facts, experience, or evidence.
How can someone transition from thinking to knowing?
Transitioning from thinking to knowing usually involves gathering evidence, experiencing something firsthand, or acquiring more information.
Can opinions be considered as knowing?
Opinions, while they can be informed, are not considered knowing in the strict sense because they often lack the universal acceptance and certainty associated with knowledge.
In what ways can knowing be beneficial?
Knowing can be beneficial in making informed decisions, solving problems, and navigating life's challenges with confidence.
How do thinking and knowing interact in the learning process?
In the learning process, thinking involves exploring, questioning, and analyzing, while knowing represents the accumulation of verified information or skills.
Can technology enhance our thinking and knowing capabilities?
Technology can enhance our thinking and knowing by providing access to vast amounts of information and tools for analysis and learning.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
