knowledgeable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of knowledgeable
Explanation
Someone who is knowledgeable is highly educated and well versed in a particular subject. Making it your life goal to become knowledgeable about naked mole rats might not win you the Nobel Prize, but it might be fun. It’s interesting to note the shift in meaning of the adjective knowledgeable from when it was first recorded in the 1600s and now. Originally, knowledgeable was spelled without the second -e, and meant “capable of being known, recognizable.” Now, though, we use the adjective to describe that which has or displays knowledge. If you're well-read and alert, you're knowledgeable about the ways of the world.
Vocabulary lists containing knowledgeable
Words to Describe Yourself on a Resume
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Words to Describe a Teacher
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Employment, List 3
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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.
It’s not clear how close to a resolution the two parties are, but talks in recent days have been constructive, one of the knowledgeable sources said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Home improvement has the rare characteristic in retail where a customer’s appetite and spending are limitless, and a knowledgeable salesperson can instill confidence in customers to tackle larger—and bigger budget—projects.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Just present yourself as knowledgeable and open-minded, as opposed to a blanket cynic.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
Rubio is knowledgeable about "the pain of the Cuban exile... because he is a product of South Florida," Bovo added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
She had the support and involvement of parents, teachers, friends, and an involved, knowledgeable college adviser at her high school.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
