knowing

comparative more knowing · superlative most knowing

1. Possessing knowledge or understanding; knowledgeable, intelligent.First known use 14th c.

   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.First known use 16th c.
3. Shrewd or showing clever awareness; discerning.First known use 17th c.

   a knowing rascal

4. archaicDemonstrating knowledge of what is in fashion; stylish, chic.First known use 18th c.

   ‘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

   1 more example

   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.First known use 19th c.

   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, archived from the original on 31 Jul 2017

   1 more example

   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

1. Given my knowledge about someone or something.

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

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of know

plural knowings

1. The act or condition of having knowledge.

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

   2009, Gilbert Ryle, The Concept of Mind (60th Anniversary Edition, 1949, page 194)