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Synonyms

knowledgeable

American  
[nol-i-juh-buhl] / ˈnɒl ɪ dʒə bəl /
Or knowledgable

adjective

  1. possessing or exhibiting knowledge, insight, or understanding; intelligent; well-informed; discerning; perceptive.


knowledgeable British  
/ ˈnɒlɪdʒəbəl /

adjective

  1. possessing or indicating much knowledge

"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

Etymology

Origin of knowledgeable

First recorded in 1600–10; knowledge + -able

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.

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Vocabulary lists containing knowledgeable

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.

See Examples For:

But in the case of the Futu and UP Fintech trades, Susquehanna said it faced an even more knowledgeable opponent—traders who knew the companies were in the crosshairs of regulators in Beijing.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 30, 2026

Sanderson said Burton was "very experienced and knowledgeable" when it came to trains.

From BBC Jun. 23, 2026

The DNI has been doing this with the merging of intelligence assets with A.I., according to knowledgeable sources.

From Slate Jun. 15, 2026

And they were so knowledgeable and like, “Go back and look at everything that you’ve done the last 10 years, and review everything, and make sure that they can’t use your likeness in the future.”

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 9, 2026

Not only was he more knowledgeable, he was bolder and more confident.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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