diff --git a/src/commands.rs b/src/commands.rs
index c0db926..28f9645 100644
--- a/src/commands.rs
+++ b/src/commands.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ type Context<'a> = poise::Context<'a, Data, Error>;
 
 /// all of the commands supported by `buscemi`
 pub fn commands() -> Vec<poise::Command<Data, Error>> {
-    vec![help(), ping(), eight_ball(), know()]
+    vec![help(), ping(), eight_ball(), know(), what()]
 }
 
 /// print helpful information
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ async fn eight_ball(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-/// remember some important knowledge
+/// commit some important knowledge to memory
 ///
 /// usage:
 /// ```
@@ -120,3 +120,23 @@ async fn know(
     ctx.say(message).await?;
     Ok(())
 }
+
+/// recall some important knowledge
+#[poise::command(prefix_command, slash_command)]
+async fn what(
+    ctx: Context<'_>,
+    #[rest]
+    #[description = "the thing you want to look up"]
+    is: String,
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let message = {
+        let facts = ctx.data().facts.lock().unwrap();
+        let is = is.strip_prefix("is ").unwrap_or(is.as_str());
+        facts.get(is).map_or_else(
+            || format!("i don't know what {is} is"),
+            |definition| format!("{is} is {definition}"),
+        )
+    };
+    ctx.say(message).await?;
+    Ok(())
+}