knowing
prepEtymology From know + -ing.
1
Given my knowledge about someone or something.
- Knowing you, you would try not to be late for school.
knowing
adjUK /ˈnəʊɪŋ/ · US /ˈnoʊɪŋ/
Etymology From know + -ing.
1
Possessing knowledge or understanding; knowledgeable, intelligent.
- The knowing and intelligent part of the world.1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London:
2
Deliberate, wilful.
3
Shrewd or showing clever awareness; discerning.
- a knowing rascal
4
Archaic Demonstrating knowledge of what is in fashion; stylish, chic.
- ‘I was a raw boy from College, and fancied it very knowing to marry a girl that all the young fellows of my acquaintance reckoned so confounded handsome.’1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 173:
- Tom thought his cap a very knowing affair, but confessed that he had a hat in his hat-box; which was accordingly at once extracted from the hind-boot, and Tom equipped in his go-to-meeting roof, as his new friend called it.1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days:
5
Suggestive of private knowledge or understanding.
- Jon and Tyrion greet each other with the words that have been used against them as weapons, sharing a knowing smile.2017 July 30, Ali Barthwell, “Ice and fire finally meet in a front-loaded episode of Game Of Thrones (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:
- As family entertainment, it’s all perfectly fine. There are plenty of callbacks to the original to delight young fans (including a catchy new song from Shakira’s Gazelle) and plenty of knowing jokes for the adults in the audience.2025 November 25, Caroline Siede, “Zootopia 2 is a stagnant sequel with one stellar subplot”, in AV Club:
- Synonyms
- knowful