knowing

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle of know. Use this '-ing' form when the action of understanding is happening, as in 'knowing the way home.'

   Knowing the way home, the children walked back alone.

   Knowing a few words of Spanish helped her a lot on the trip.

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Showing that you understand a secret or hidden meaning that others may not.

   Like a wink that shows you both share a secret.

   She gave him a knowing smile across the room.

   He shot me a knowing glance the moment the subject came up.

   Similarmeaningful, conspiratorial, significant, arch

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Clever and well-informed, with a good understanding of things.

   Like someone who has studied a subject for years and understands it deeply.

   She was a knowing observer of local politics.

   A knowing reader will catch the small jokes hidden in the text.

   Similarknowledgeable, informed, learned, astute

   Oppositeignorant, uninformed

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Clever and quick to notice or understand what is really going on.

   Like a chess player who sees the trap coming before anyone else.

   The knowing investor pulled out just before the market crashed.

   She had a knowing sense for when people were lying to her.

   Similarshrewd, astute, perceptive, discerning, canny

   Oppositenaive, gullible

5. 5
   adjective

   Done on purpose, not by accident.

   Her knowing refusal to follow the rules cost her the job.

   It was a knowing choice to leave his name off the list.

   Similardeliberate, intentional, willful, conscious

   Oppositeunintentional, accidental, inadvertent, unwitting

6. 6
   preposition

   Used to say that something fits what you already know about a person or thing.

   Like guessing what a friend will do because you know them so well.

   Knowing Sarah, she'll arrive an hour early.

   Knowing this neighborhood, the café will be packed by noon.

   Similargiven

   Note
7. 7
   noununcountable

   The state of having knowledge or understanding about something.

   Like the calm, sure feeling of understanding something deep inside.

   There is a deep knowing that comes only with years of experience.

   Her quiet knowing made the rest of us trust her instincts.

   Similarknowledge, understanding, awareness, cognition

   Oppositeignorance

   Note

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