knowing

[ noh-ing ]

/ ˈnoʊ ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR knowing ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

affecting, implying, or deliberately revealing shrewd knowledge of secret or private information: a knowing glance.

that knows; having knowledge or information; intelligent.

shrewd, sharp, or astute.

conscious; intentional; deliberate.

Origin of knowing

1325–75; Middle English knawynge (earlier knowende, knawande). See know¹, -ing²

SYNONYMS FOR knowing

1 meaningful, significant, eloquent, perceptive.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR knowing ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM knowing

know·ing·ly, adverb know·ing·ness, noun

Words nearby knowing

know-nothing, know-nothings, knowable, knowe, knowed, knowing, knowledge, knowledge economy, knowledge engineering, knowledge is power, knowledge worker

Definition for knowing (2 of 2)

know ¹

[ noh ]

/ noʊ /

verb (used with object), knew, known, know·ing.

to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly and with certainty: I know the situation fully.

to have established or fixed in the mind or memory: to know a poem by heart; Do you know the way to the park from here?

to be cognizant or aware of: I know it.

be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report: to know the mayor.

to understand from experience or attainment (usually followed by how before an infinitive): to know how to make gingerbread.

to be able to distinguish, as one from another: to know right from wrong.

Archaic. to have sexual intercourse with.

verb (used without object), knew, known, know·ing.

to have knowledge or clear and certain perception, as of fact or truth.

to be cognizant or aware, as of some fact, circumstance, or occurrence; have information, as about something.

noun

the fact or state of knowing; knowledge.

Origin of know

before 900; Middle English knowen, knawen, Old English gecnāwan; cognate with Old High German -cnāhan, Old Norse knā to know how, be able to; akin to Latin ( g)nōvī, Greek gignṓskein. See gnostic, can¹

SYNONYMS FOR know

1 Know, comprehend, understand imply being aware of meanings. To know is to be aware of something as a fact or truth: He knows the basic facts of the subject. I know that he agrees with me. To comprehend is to know something thoroughly and to perceive its relationships to certain other ideas, facts, etc. To understand is to be fully aware not only of the meaning of something but also of its implications: I could comprehend all he said, but did not understand that he was joking.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR know ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM know

know·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for knowing

Koenig must know by now that second to knowing if Adnan is innocent, we want to know if she thinks Adnan is innocent.

Adnan Killed Her! No, Jay Did It! Serial’s Uncertain, True-to-Reality End |Emily Shire |December 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Once he was wearing bracelets, Wright quickly confessed to knowing that “Jane Doe” was a minor, according to court papers.

The Navy ‘Hero’ Who Pimped an HIV-Positive Teen |M.L. Nestel |December 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The auctioneer talks about knowing and employing royalty, and celebrity big spenders.

William, Kate, and Jay Z’s Favorite Art Star: Alexander Gilkes' World of Rock Stars and Royalty |Tim Teeman |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Knowing the fellow to be both poor and harmless, I quietly gave him one.

A Million Ways to Die in Prison |Daniel Genis |December 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

But I'm pretty solid in the knowing that he's disgusted by that.

The Chris Brown vs. Drake Feud Continues: Brown Claims Ex GF Karrueche Tran Cheated with Drizzy |Marlow Stern |December 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He swung to face the locked door, knowing there could be nothing behind it.

Cry from a Far Planet |Tom Godwin
Some one is so very proper, and such a fine lady, I shouldn't have thought she'd have done things without your knowing.'

Demos |George Gissing
The American boys were tense and strained, knowing that in a few hours they would be facing death.

People of Destiny |Philip Gibbs
Forsaken and half frozen, the child wandered up and down, not knowing where to find shelter.

Catharine's Peril, or The Little Russian Girl Lost in a Forest |M. E. Bewsher
Knowing that I had not, he began to suspect foul play, and determined on gaining admittance to me.

The Heroine |Eaton Stannard Barrett

British Dictionary definitions for knowing (1 of 2)

knowing

/ (ˈnəʊɪŋ) /

adjective

suggesting secret information or knowledge

wise, shrewd, or clever

deliberate; intentional

noun

there is no knowing one cannot tell

Derived forms of knowing

knowingly, adverb knowingness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for knowing (2 of 2)

know

/ (nəʊ) /

verb knows, knowing, knew (njuː) or known (nəʊn) (mainly tr)

(also intr; may take a clause as object) to be or feel certain of the truth or accuracy of (a fact, etc)

to be acquainted or familiar with she's known him five years

to have a familiarity or grasp of, as through study or experience he knows French

(also intr; may take a clause as object) to understand, be aware of, or perceive (facts, etc) he knows the answer now

(foll by how) to be sure or aware of (how to be or do something)

to experience, esp deeply to know poverty

to be intelligent, informed, or sensible enough (to do something) she knew not to go home yet

(may take a clause as object) to be able to distinguish or discriminate

archaic to have sexual intercourse with

I know what I have an idea

know what's what to know how one thing or things in general work

you know informal a parenthetical filler phrase used to make a pause in speaking or add slight emphasis to a statement

you never know things are uncertain

noun

in the know informal aware or informed

Derived forms of know

knowable, adjective knower, noun

Word Origin for know

Old English gecnāwan; related to Old Norse knā I can, Latin noscere to come to know

Idioms and Phrases with knowing

know

In addition to the idioms beginning with know

know all the answers
know a thing or two
know beans
know better
know by heart
know by sight
know enough to come in out of the rain
know from Adam
know if one is coming or going
know it all
know like a book
know one's own mind
know one's place
know one's stuff
know one's way around
know only too well
know the ropes
know the score
know where one stands
know which side of one's bread is buttered

also see:

before you know it
(know) by heart
come in out of the rain, know enough to
coming or going, know if one's
for all (I know)
god knows
(know) inside out
in the know
it takes one to know one
left hand doesn't know what right hand is doing
not know beans
not know from Adam
not know where to turn
not know which way to jump
thing or two, know
what do you know
what have you (who knows what)
which is which, know
you know

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

knowing

adjective

Origin of knowing

SYNONYMS FOR knowing

OTHER WORDS FROM knowing

Words nearby knowing

Definition for knowing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), knew, known, know·ing.

verb (used without object), knew, known, know·ing.

noun

Origin of know

SYNONYMS FOR know

OTHER WORDS FROM know

Example sentences from the Web for knowing

British Dictionary definitions for knowing (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of knowing

British Dictionary definitions for knowing (2 of 2)

verb knows, knowing, knew (njuː) or known (nəʊn) (mainly tr)

noun

Derived forms of know

Word Origin for know

Idioms and Phrases with knowing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

knowing

adjective

Origin of knowing

SYNONYMS FOR knowing

OTHER WORDS FROM knowing

Words nearby knowing

Definition for knowing (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), knew, known, know·ing.

verb (used without object), knew, known, know·ing.

noun

Origin of know

SYNONYMS FOR know

OTHER WORDS FROM know

Words related to knowing

Example sentences from the Web for knowing

British Dictionary definitions for knowing (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of knowing

British Dictionary definitions for knowing (2 of 2)

verb knows, knowing, knew (njuː) or known (nəʊn) (mainly tr)

noun

Derived forms of know

Word Origin for know

Idioms and Phrases with knowing