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.
Gen. William Tong — who had signed on to the lawsuit — had said they needed more concessions, according to three knowledgeable sources close to the negotiations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 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
The research found that under a third of those diagnosed said their GP had initiated management for the disorder, and only 13% had access to a "knowledgeable clinician".
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
Just present yourself as knowledgeable and open-minded, as opposed to a blanket cynic.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
The flowers nodded like bright, knowledgeable children as I trundled them down the hall.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
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.
