knowing

[noh-ing]

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

/ ˈnəʊɪŋ /

adjective

1. suggesting secret information or knowledge

2. wise, shrewd, or clever

3. deliberate; intentional

noun

1. one cannot tell

Other Word Forms

• knowingly adverb
• knowingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of knowing¹

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

Example Sentences

These diehard subcommunities centered around outre fashion, indie pop and stylish photography took to Grimes, knowing it allowed them to finally become fans of themselves.

Read more on Salon

He put it down to "my mother knowing the dean of admissions".

Read more on BBC

And beyond waiting for a new batch of Navy reports, there was no way of knowing what’s in the air.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Wandelt said she felt this was "disrespectful" as it was April Fool's Day, knowing how long she had been waiting.

Read more on BBC

“But also a knowing reality that the two countries are far from settling all of their differences, leaving us vulnerable to re-escalation at any point that could unravel these agreements.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• insightful 
• intelligent 
• perceptive 
• sophisticated