knowing

[ noh-ing ]
See synonyms for: knowingknowingly on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. affecting, implying, or deliberately revealing shrewd knowledge of secret or private information: a knowing glance.

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

  1. shrewd, sharp, or astute.

  2. conscious; intentional; deliberate.

Origin of knowing

1
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English knawynge (earlier knowende, knawande ); equivalent to know1 + -ing2

Other words for knowing

Other words from knowing

  • know·ing·ly, adverb
  • know·ing·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use knowing in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for knowing

knowing

/ (ˈnəʊɪŋ) /


adjective
  1. suggesting secret information or knowledge

  2. wise, shrewd, or clever

  1. deliberate; intentional

noun
  1. there is no knowing one cannot tell

Derived forms of knowing

  • knowingly, adverb
  • knowingness, noun

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