knowing [ noh -ing ] SHOW IPA
/ ˈnoʊ ɪŋ / PHONETIC RESPELLING
adjective
affecting, implying, or deliberately revealing shrewd knowledge of secret or private information: a knowing glance. shrewd, sharp, or astute.
conscious; intentional; deliberate.
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Origin of knowing 1325–75; Middle English
knawynge (earlier
knowende, knawande ). See
know1 ,
-ing2
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. 2023
Words related to knowing insightful ,
intelligent ,
perceptive ,
sophisticated ,
awake ,
brilliant ,
cool ,
crack ,
deliberate ,
discerning ,
expert ,
intended ,
percipient ,
qualified ,
quick ,
sage ,
sharp ,
slick ,
smart ,
wise
How to use knowing in a sentence Nothing like a little world economy knowing ness to silence the in-laws.
In recent weeks, McHale has used The Soup to promote Community—with facetious knowing ness, of course.
Anthony negatived the question decisively with a reference to his general knowing ness.
The primitive Roxburgheians used to sport these toasts as a symbol of knowing ness and high caste in book-hunting freemasonry.
Here Jack whistled low, shut one eye with deep knowing ness, and grinned behind his bell-crown.
From this lack of housewifely knowing ness and capacity, she suffered much and Shelley not a little.
Therefore all-knowing ness is possible only in the sense of capacity for all knowledge.
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British Dictionary definitions for knowing
adjective
suggesting secret information or knowledge
wise, shrewd, or clever
deliberate; intentional
noun
there is no knowing one cannot tell
Derived forms of knowing knowingly , adverb knowingness , noun Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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