knowing
Americanadjective
-
affecting, implying, or deliberately revealing shrewd knowledge of secret or private information.
a knowing glance.
- Synonyms:
- perceptive, eloquent, significant, meaningful
-
shrewd, sharp, or astute.
-
conscious; intentional; deliberate.
adjective
-
suggesting secret information or knowledge
-
wise, shrewd, or clever
-
deliberate; intentional
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of knowing
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English knawynge (earlier knowende, knawande ); equivalent to know 1 + -ing 2
Explanation
Something that's knowing is sneakily wise or perceptive. A knowing smile conveys a lot of information — it implies that you know a secret or are in on some background information. Picture Mona Lisa. A knowing glance tells its recipient that you've got them figured out or that you're aware of something they haven't shared with many people. You can use this adjective to simply mean "having knowledge" or "intentional" too, as when someone makes a knowing purchase of stolen goods. The noun version of knowing is also simple, meaning "the state of having knowledge or being aware."
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.
I’ve had to train myself to not look at the report before talking to my doctor for my own mental health, because the anxiety of knowing what is in the reports is sometimes overwhelming.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
I remember not knowing the whereabouts of my father, who worked in Manhattan, and thinking he might be dead.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Of course, knowing what you're supposed to do is one thing but actually walking up to a stranger and starting a conversation, or even messaging someone out of the blue online, is another.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
They pay about $90 out of pocket for annual checkups for both dogs and have peace of mind knowing they have a dedicated emergency fund should they need it.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
But I stood rooted to the spot, knowing that I had seen a mystery.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
