KEN definition: knowledge, understanding, or cognizance; mental perception. See examples of ken used in a sentence.

Ken appeared on the English horizon in the 16th century referring to the distance bounding the range of ordinary vision at sea (about 20 miles), and would thus have been familiar to skippers …

KEN definition: 1. not in your area of knowledge: 2. to know someone or something 3. not in your area of…. Learn more.

1. knowledge or understanding: an idea beyond one's ken. 2. range of sight or vision.

Definition of ken noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Ken in American English (ken) noun a male given name, form of Kendall or Kenneth

Ken (ken), n. a male given name, form of Kendall or Kenneth. Ken., Place Names Kentucky.

The term “ken” is notably used in Scottish dialect as a common verb meaning “to know.” The phrase “beyond my ken” is a popular idiom meaning “outside the range of my knowledge or …

Dec 28, 2025 · In common usage a fossil word, found only in phrases such as beyond one’s ken and swim into one’s ken.

There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun ken, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.