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Synonyms

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; know; having knowledge or information; intelligent.

  3. shrewd, sharp, or astute.

  4. conscious; intentional; deliberate.

knowing British  
/ ˈnəʊɪŋ /

adjective

  1. suggesting secret information or knowledge

  2. wise, shrewd, or clever

  3. deliberate; intentional

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. one cannot tell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • knowingly adverb
  • knowingness noun

Etymology

Origin of knowing

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

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.

Ray's son Alex is already following his father as a fan of Thistle and the national team - and in knowing how to sign.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

The trick is knowing how much fun you can afford.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

For anyone who enjoys observing the Moon, there is something remarkable about knowing it is not a static object.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

He references Susan Sontag’s famous essay “Notes on Camp” to say there are two kinds of camp humor, one that is unknowing and another that is knowing.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

If I was embarrassed, I’m sure she was too, although, knowing her, she would be sitting as cool as a cucumber.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

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.