Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Possessing knowledge, understanding, or awareness: Describes someone who is well-informed, insightful, or has a deep understanding of a subject or situation.
   • Showing shrewdness or cunning: Suggests a clever, sometimes sly or secretive, awareness.
   • Done with deliberate intent or purpose: Indicates an action performed consciously and knowingly.

2. Noun:

   • The state of having knowledge or awareness: Refers to the fact or condition of knowing something; cognition or apprehension.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She gave me a knowing smile, as if we shared a secret. (This shows a look of shared, unspoken understanding.)
  • He is a knowing observer of human behavior. (This describes someone who is a perceptive and insightful observer.)
  • The fraud was a knowing attempt to deceive investors. (This indicates the act was deliberate and intentional.)

• Noun:

  • The knowing of right from wrong is fundamental. (This refers to the state of possessing that knowledge.)

Advanced Usage

• "A knowing look/smile/nod": A facial expression that communicates shared understanding or private information without words.

  • They exchanged a knowing glance across the room.

• "There is no knowing...": Used to express that something is impossible to predict or ascertain.

  • There is no knowing what the future may bring.

Variants and Related Words

• Knowingly (adverb): In a way that shows one knows or is aware; deliberately.

  • He knowingly broke the rules.

• Knowledge (noun): Information, understanding, or skill acquired through experience or education.

• Knowledgeable (adjective): Intelligent and well informed.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Astute, perceptive, shrewd, cognizant, deliberate, intentional, willful.
• Noun: Awareness, cognition, understanding.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Ignorant, unaware, naive, unintentional, accidental.

Related Phrases

• In the know: Being aware of information known only to a select group.

  • You have to be in the know to understand the reference.

• For all I know: Used to emphasize that one does not know something.

  • He could be in Timbuktu, for all I know.

Adjective

1. highly educated; having extensive information or understanding
   • knowing instructors
   • a knowledgeable critic
   • a knowledgeable audience
2. alert and fully informed
   • a knowing collector of rare books
   • surprisingly knowledgeable about what was going on
3. characterized by conscious design or purpose
   • intentional damage
   • a knowing attempt to defraud
   • a willful waste of time
4. evidencing the possession of inside information

Noun

1. a clear and certain mental apprehension