knowing

From know +‎ -ing.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnoʊɪŋ/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈnəʊɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊɪŋ

knowing (comparative more knowing, superlative most knowing)

1. Possessing knowledge or understanding; knowledgeable, intelligent. [from 14th c.]
   • 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, 6th edition, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] J[ames] Bettenham, for Jonah Bowyer, […], published 1727, →OCLC:

     The knowing and intelligent part of the world.

2. Deliberate, wilful. [from 16th c.]
3. Shrewd or showing clever awareness; discerning. [from 17th c.]

   a knowing rascal

4. Demonstrating knowledge of what is in fashion; stylish, chic. [from 18th c.]
   • 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 173:

     ‘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.’

5. The ability to know something without being taught.
6. Suggestive of private knowledge or understanding. [from 19th c.]
   • 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:

     Jon and Tyrion greet each other with the words that have been used against them as weapons, sharing a knowing smile.

• knowful

knowing

1. Given my knowledge about someone or something.

   Knowing you, you would try not to be late for school.

knowing

1. present participle and gerund of know

• knowingly

knowing (plural knowings)

1. The act or condition of having knowledge.
   • 2009, Gilbert Ryle, The Concept of Mind (60th Anniversary Edition, 1949, page 194)

     Sensations then, are not perceivings, observings or findings; they are not detectings, scannings or inspectings; they are not apprehendings, cognisings, intuitings or knowings.