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What is "to know how"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
To know how

Know \Know\ (n[=o]), v. t. [imp. Knew (n[=u]); p. p. Known (n[=o]n); p. pr. & vb. n. Knowing.] [OE. knowen, knawen, AS. cn["a]wan; akin to OHG. chn["a]an (in comp.), Icel. kn["a] to be able, Russ. znate to know, L. gnoscere, noscere, Gr. gighw`skein, Skr. jn[=a]; fr. the root of E. can, v. i., ken. [root]45. See Ken, Can to be able, and cf. Acquaint, Cognition, Gnome, Ignore, Noble, Note.]

  1. 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 know The end of this day's business ere it come!
    --Shak.

    There is a certainty in the proposition, and we know it.
    --Dryden.

    Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong.
    --Longfellow.

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

  3. 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.
    --2 Cor. v. 21.

    Not to know me argues yourselves unknown.
    --Milton.

  4. 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.
    --Matt. vil. 16.

    And their eyes were opened, and they knew him.
    --Luke xxiv. 31.

    To know Faithful friend from flattering foe.
    --Shak.

    At nearer view he thought he knew the dead.
    --Flatman.

  5. To have sexual intercourse with. And Adam knew Eve his wife. --Gen. iv.

    1. Note: Know is often followed by an objective and an infinitive (with or without to) or a participle, a dependent sentence, etc.

      And I knew that thou hearest me always.
      --John xi. 4

    2. The monk he instantly knew to be the prior.
      --Sir W. Scott.

      In other hands I have known money do good.
      --Dickens.

      To know how, to understand the manner, way, or means; to have requisite information, intelligence, or sagacity. How is sometimes omitted. `` If we fear to die, or know not to be patient.''
      --Jer. Taylor.

Usage examples of "to know how".

When he finished, I asked him if he wanted to know how our profits looked.

And you'll have to know how to feed it and care for it, otherwise it would get sick and die.

I only claim to know how a story ought to be told, for I have been almost daily in the company of the most expert storytellers for many years.

The prince had discovered enough about his own dark side, here on Marduk, to know how easy it would have been for someone in Pahner's place to become callous and uncaring.

The prince had discovered enough about his own dark side, here on Marduk, to know how easy it would have been for someone in Pahner’.

Nadaske was truly interested in the snare, wanted to know how it was made.

Suppose, for instance, you are out hiking with a companion (having lost your pedometer, let us say), and your friend wants to know how many paces you can go in a given period of time.

Film producers want to know how the story ends and what it consists of.

You want to know how one of Us could suffer something like madness when we're all perfect, don't you?