knowing

play

adjective know·ing \ˈnō-iŋ\

Definition of knowing

1 : having or reflecting knowledge, information, or intelligence
2a : shrewdly and keenly alert : astute a knowing observerb : indicating possession of exclusive inside knowledge or information a knowing smile
3 : cognitive
4 : deliberate knowing interference in the affairs of another

knowingly

adverb

knowingness

noun

See knowing defined for English-language learners

See knowing defined for kids

First Known Use of knowing

14th century

knowing

noun know·ing

Definition of knowing

: acquaintance, cognizance

Examples of knowing in a Sentence

She looked at us in a knowing way.
exchanged a knowing look with her business partner during the sales presentation

Recent Examples of knowing from the Web

His dark night of the soul takes him to the Pleasant Beach House, a bar and brothel, where his visit with Amanda Drinkall's marvelous Belle is both comic and oddly lovely on its way to a messy sort of knowing.

— tony adler, Chicago Reader, "The Goodman gives us Eugene O’Neill, without tears," 5 July 2017
The knowing references, however, grow flat and repetitive, leaving behind a movie that, as snapped together, plays like less than the sum of its parts.

— brian lowry, CNN, "'Lego Batman Movie' doesn't quite hold together," 29 June 2017
Emanuel agreed to a consent decree in January knowing Trump had been elected.

— bill ruthhart, chicagotribune.com, "Preckwinkle, Garcia push Emanuel on federal court oversight of police reform," 19 June 2017
Zitter’s book shows how knowing when to do nothing is as vital to being a good doctor as knowing when to do everything.

— judith newman, New York Times, "I’m Dying Up Here: Books on How to Grieve and How to Die," 16 June 2017
Some of the things that contractors were paid to do were very dangerous and often times these Americans suffered severe injuries, mental health issues and death without the public knowing.

— ed hiner, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Unsung heroes, not ‘mercenaries’," 8 June 2017
Marie D. Brown is a child of the Civil Rights Era and her knowledge and wisdom instilled in me a knowing of the excellence that too often, remains silenced in our media.

— lesley-ann brown, NBC News, "From W.E.B. Du Bois to Octavia Butler: Your Spring Reading List," 17 May 2017
This, say the knowing, is the mark of a good edition.

— genevieve walker, Bon Appetit, "The Obsessive Sport of Shopping for a Vintage 'Joy of Cooking'," 15 May 2017
Then there’s our easy access to information that makes people feel all-knowing.

— colby itkowitz, Washington Post, "To solve our post-truth problem, these TED speakers say we have to admit we don’t know everything," 27 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'knowing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of knowing

14th century

KNOWING Defined for English Language Learners

knowing

adjective

Definition of knowing for English Language Learners

: showing that you have special knowledge

KNOWING Defined for Kids

knowing

adjective know·ing \ˈnō-iŋ\

Definition of knowing for Students

1 : having or showing special knowledge, information, or intelligence
2 : shrewdly and keenly alert The baby looked around with knowing eyes.

knowingly

adverb

Law Dictionary

knowing

adjective know·ing

Legal Definition of knowing

1 : having or reflecting knowledge a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel — see also intelligent
2 : deliberate 2 knowing possession knowing endangerment — compare mens rea