Showing results for "knowing"

• present participle of know.

knowing

American  

[noh-ing] / ˈnoʊ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. affecting, implying, or deliberately revealing shrewd knowledge of secret or private information.

   a knowing glance.

   Synonyms:

   perceptive, eloquent, significant, meaningful

2. that knows; having knowledge or information; intelligent.

3. shrewd, sharp, or astute.

4. conscious; intentional; deliberate.

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knowing British  

/ ˈnəʊɪŋ /

adjective

1. suggesting secret information or knowledge

2. wise, shrewd, or clever

3. deliberate; intentional

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noun

1. one cannot tell

Other Word Forms

• knowingness
  noun
• knowingly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of knowing

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English knawynge (earlier knowende, knawande ); equivalent to know ¹ + -ing ²

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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

See Examples For:

knowing

She gave a knowing smile, insisting I try on the skirt I was clutching.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026

In the early 1970s, the rock manager Shep Gordon schemed up ways to infuriate moms and dads, knowing it would make his client Alice Cooper look that much cooler to their children.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

As retailers gather more information about their customers and acquire increasingly sophisticated pricing tools, shoppers risk knowing less about why they’re paying what they’re paying.

From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026

Antonelli went into the race knowing that effectively he only had to stay out of trouble to ensure he secured the title.

From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026

How she lived all her life not knowing what had happened to her, until her one true friend came back into her life.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

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Related Words

• insightful
• intelligent
• perceptive
• sophisticated

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