ken
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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She paid sharpest attention to those in her ken, broadly defined as America, where she had the truest sense of need and sharpest eye for what would help.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Sometimes, you just have to accept that you’re talking to an expert who is speaking in terms beyond your ken.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
Having stakes in four of the “Magnificent Seven” Big Tech stocks might not seem like strategy beyond the ken of the ordinary investor.
From Barron's ● May 15, 2026
When Mani audited a course on theoretical physics, it was generally assumed that the material would be "beyond her ken", Sur observes.
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2023
“Ah ken what t’ dooo,” drawled Jamie, the Pobble Who Has No Toes, dragging out his vowels to make them exaggeratedly Scots.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
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Gunn explains that he wanted to allow himself artistic license, given that Jamie and Claire are well funded and Claire kens the future.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2022
The proprietors of the padding kens were on the payroll, as were the managers of "baby farms."
From Time Magazine Archive
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Rebecca read steel cost sheets by sunlight and Shakespeare by candlelight, in 22 years won fame & fortune for herself and Lu kens.
From Time Magazine Archive
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“Aye, uncle, and every man kens fine how you have tried. But that dinna alter the truth, that we both desire at heart she may come safe.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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“Aye, it is sad. But he kens the difference yet of right and wrong.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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"You seem to be kenned here," I observed when my breath had caught up with me.
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
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Ye kenned na whether he laughed or frowned, or promised or threatened.
From Trevethlan: (Vol 2 of 3) A Cornish Story. by William Davy Watson
I almost think she kenned what was coming.”
From The Twa Miss Dawsons by Margaret M. (Margaret Murray) Robertson
Here I must notice Johnny Grippy, who had never been kenned to perform a generous action in the whole course of his existence.
From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 15 by Various
But I have kenned such a power o’ mockery give great pain to others, and bring great suffering sooner or later on those that had it.
From The Twa Miss Dawsons by Margaret M. (Margaret Murray) Robertson
Especially, ask about local varieties, from keswick codlin and worcester pearmain to cornish aromatic and beauty of kent.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 9, 2019
Scott alludes to the old song of the Lea Rig,— "Nae herds wi' kent and colley there," etc.
From Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Volume 6 by J. G. (John Gibson) Lockhart
He keeps me well by sheer moral suasion. kent comes out of his room and is off downstairs.
From Three Plays by Granville-Barker The Marrying of Ann Leete; The Voysey Inheritance; Waste by Harley Granville-Barker
With eight bright guineas in his pocket, he received a hearty welcome on going back again, from all the "weel kent" faces he passed on his "hameward" journey to "Canobie lea."
From Wrestling and Wrestlers: Biographical Sketches of Celebrated Athletes of the Northern Ring; to Which is Added Notes on Bull and Badger Baiting by Sidney Gilpin
At first I was completely bamboozled and amaist dung stupid, though I kent a word of French which I wantit to pit till him, so I cried through—"Canna you speak Frencha, Mounseer?"
From Amusing Prose Chap Books by Various
“There’s things it’s best to put off kenning as lang as we can.”
From The Little Minister by J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie
He was the first to recognize the significance of kenning, metaphor, and compound.
From The Translations of Beowulf A Critical Bibliography by Chauncey Brewster Tinker
He that is ill of his harbery, is good of his way kenning.
From Collection of Scotch Proverbs by Pappity Stampoy
There are things that are wrong wi' the world that we maun all pitch in together to mak' richt—I'm kenning that as well as anyone.
From Between You and Me by Sir Harry Lauder
Thorkelin knew nothing of the peculiar style of Old English poetry; he could recognize neither kenning, metaphor, nor compound.
From The Translations of Beowulf A Critical Bibliography by Chauncey Brewster Tinker
Vocabulary lists containing ken
Essential Three-Letter Words, Part 1
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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Beowulf vocabulary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!