knowing

1 of 2

adjective

know·​ing ˈnō-iŋ How to pronounce knowing (audio)
1
: having or reflecting knowledge, information, or intelligence
2
a
: shrewdly and keenly alert : astute
a knowing observer
b
: indicating possession of exclusive inside knowledge or information
a knowing smile
3
4
: deliberate
knowing interference in the affairs of another
knowingly adverb
knowingness noun

knowing

2 of 2

noun

Examples of knowing in a Sentence

Adjective She looked at us in a knowing way. exchanged a knowing look with her business partner during the sales presentation
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Many of the Middleton-absence memes are a knowing way for people to signal their extreme onlineness and laugh at themselves. Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 29 Feb. 2024 That the building’s birthright visitors hail from both Russia and Ukraine hints at a knowing irony, albeit one the movie quickly moves on from, rather than folding into its political purview. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2024 There is a knowing, winky David Lynchian patina to her music and her persona. Shane O’Neill, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 Moore has worked with Haynes several times before, and May December carries some knowing echoes of their past movies. EW.com, 17 Nov. 2023 Ed shares a knowing look with Lorraine and then speaks into the phone. Clark Collis, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2023 The dealer does not make a remark, your neighbor at the table does not raise a knowing eyebrow. Steve Silverman, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2024 Writing my little letter to Santo Clos and delivering it with an angelic smile and a knowing wink was part of the fun. Alex Zaragoza, Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2023 Newsroom humor is twisted, cynical, knowing, ever aware of the maddening gap between how things are and how things should be — but also open to the possibility that the gap can be closed. John Kelly, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023
Noun
Today, that way of knowing seems like a waste of precious mental space. TIME, 8 Feb. 2024 This natural intuitive knowing and connection to nature is a vital component to healing traditions. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 23 Jan. 2024 During the pandemic, many customers tipped hard and heavy knowing that service workers were struggling. Scott Hocker, theweek, 25 Jan. 2024 There’s joy in the not knowing, excitement in finding out what will happen next. Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Dec. 2023 Here, Freiman scratches at the difference between knowing and knowingness, and how our blind spots can subsume our personality. Ryan Chapman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023 But there is no knowing just how Hamas will respond to such pressure. Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023 Dexter had been buried — without her knowing — in a cemetery outside a county prison. Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2023 The lawyer representing a Mississippi mother whose adult son was run over by an off-duty police officer and was later buried in a pauper’s grave without her knowing will ask the Department of Justice to investigate why she wasn’t told what happened. Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'knowing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of knowing was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near knowing

Cite this Entry

“Knowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knowing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

knowing

adjective
know·​ing
ˈnō-iŋ
1
: having or showing special knowledge
a knowing smile
2
: shrewdly and keenly alert
3
knowingly adverb

Legal Definition

knowing

adjective
know·​ing
1
: having or reflecting knowledge
a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel
see also intelligent
2
: deliberate sense 2
knowing possession
knowing endangerment
compare mens rea
knowingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on knowing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!