knowing
/'nouiɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- highly educated; having extensive information or understanding
- knowing instructors
- a knowledgeable critic
- a knowledgeable audience
- alert and fully informed
- a knowing collector of rare books
- surprisingly knowledgeable about what was going on
- characterized by conscious design or purpose
- intentional damage
- a knowing attempt to defraud
- a willful waste of time
- evidencing the possession of inside information
Noun
- a clear and certain mental apprehension