knowing
1 of 2adjective
know·ing ˈnō-iŋ 
1
: having or reflecting knowledge, information, or intelligence
2
a
: shrewdly and keenly alert : astute
a knowing observer
b
: indicating possession of exclusive inside knowledge or information
a knowing smile
3
: cognitive
4
: deliberate
knowing interference in the affairs of another
knowingly adverb
knowingness noun
knowing
2 of 2noun
: acquaintance, cognizance
Synonyms
Adjective
- hip
- wise
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She looked at us in a knowing way. exchanged a knowing look with her business partner during the sales presentation
Recent Examples on the Web
Sophie Madeline Dess, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2022 Its buildings now resemble its brands: cooler, cuter, greener, more knowing and ironic. Darran Anderson, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2020 Instead, Doe must show Michigan State harmed her through obvious and knowing indifference: school officials knew about what happened and then looked the other way. Michael Mccann, SI.com, 13 Apr. 2018 Here, a simple introduction -- a knowing glance among friends -- takes place. Susan Scutti, CNN, 11 Apr. 2018 Kevin Dettmar, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2022 Fighting Irish knowing that if their bet loses, BetMGM Kansas will refund their account with $700 in site credit. Xl Media, cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 Honestly, best going into this knowing as little as possible! Evan Romano, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2022 Or how about Jen breaking the fourth-wall with occasional asides to her audience, in a knowing echo of Byrne’s comic panels that did the same? Caroline Framke, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 Don called me before and after, insisting on knowing and interpreting who sat where and what, if anything, we were offered to eat or drink. Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 May 2022 The singer is met with a revolving door of potential suitors trying to make their mark before Tilley makes an eleventh hour limo entrance, exchanging a knowing smile with Kiyoko. Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 Throughout, the orchestra was electric and unified, rendering gestural extremes with a knowing and controlled power and clarity. Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2022 Newton uses findings from genetics, cognitive science and other fields to wrestle with ideas around inheritance — does knowing who gave us our eyes and (perhaps) our tempers trap us or free us? Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2022 See More
Adjective
Hers, however, is at once more knowing, and more self-deprecatory. Sophie Madeline Dess, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2022 Its buildings now resemble its brands: cooler, cuter, greener, more knowing and ironic. Darran Anderson, The Atlantic, 24 Aug. 2020 Instead, Doe must show Michigan State harmed her through obvious and knowing indifference: school officials knew about what happened and then looked the other way. Michael Mccann, SI.com, 13 Apr. 2018 Here, a simple introduction -- a knowing glance among friends -- takes place. Susan Scutti, CNN, 11 Apr. 2018 Noun
Gossip, Babitz suggests, is a different, subaltern way of knowing—disdained by the (male) structures of power, but with a power (and an appeal) all its own. Kevin Dettmar, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2022 Fighting Irish knowing that if their bet loses, BetMGM Kansas will refund their account with $700 in site credit. Xl Media, cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 Honestly, best going into this knowing as little as possible! Evan Romano, Men's Health, 30 Aug. 2022 Or how about Jen breaking the fourth-wall with occasional asides to her audience, in a knowing echo of Byrne’s comic panels that did the same? Caroline Framke, Variety, 17 Aug. 2022 Don called me before and after, insisting on knowing and interpreting who sat where and what, if anything, we were offered to eat or drink. Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 May 2022 The singer is met with a revolving door of potential suitors trying to make their mark before Tilley makes an eleventh hour limo entrance, exchanging a knowing smile with Kiyoko. Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY, 24 May 2022 Throughout, the orchestra was electric and unified, rendering gestural extremes with a knowing and controlled power and clarity. Luke Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2022 Newton uses findings from genetics, cognitive science and other fields to wrestle with ideas around inheritance — does knowing who gave us our eyes and (perhaps) our tempers trap us or free us? Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing knowing
Kids Definition
knowing
adjective
know·ing
ˈnō-iŋ
1
: having or showing special knowledge, information, or intelligence
2
: shrewdly and keenly alert The baby looked around with knowing eyes.
Legal Definition
knowing
adjective
know·ing
1
: having or reflecting knowledge
a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel
see also intelligent 2
: deliberate sense 2
knowing possession
knowing endangerment
compare mens rea knowingly
adverb
as in intentionally
with full awareness of what one is doing cannot convict unless the defendant knowingly committed perjury Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- intentionally
- deliberately
- purposely
- willfully
- consciously
- purposefully
- voluntarily
- wittingly
- willingly
- designedly
- advisedly
- purposively
- on purpose
- calculatedly
- premeditatedly
- studiedly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unconsciously
- inadvertently
- unwittingly
- accidentally
- unintentionally
- unknowingly
- incidentally
- randomly
- involuntarily
- instinctively
- spontaneously
- unwillingly
- haphazardly
- impulsively
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