Knowingly

ˈnəʊɪŋli

adverbmedium📊CommonAwareness
1 meaning3 questions

Definitions

1

With awareness or conscious understanding; intentionally.

ˈnəʊɪŋli

adverbneutralmedium
Awareness

With awareness or understanding of something.

He knowingly broke the rules, knowing the punishment.

💡 Simply: It's like when you're doing something and you're completely aware of it. Like, you *knowingly* ate the last cookie, even though you weren't supposed to.

👶 For kids: When you do something and you know it's happening.

More Examples

2

The company knowingly released the product despite its flaws.

3

She knowingly walked into the trap.

How It's Used

Legal

"The defendant knowingly provided false information."

Business

"He knowingly took the risk, understanding the potential consequences."

From Middle English *knowingly*, equivalent to know + -ing + -ly. The verb 'know' derives from Old English *cnāwan* ('to know').

The term 'knowingly' has been used since the 15th century to emphasize the state of being aware of a fact or situation.

Memory tip

Think of someone nodding their head while they know what they're doing.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"to know"

knowingly acceptknowingly discloseknowingly provideknowingly madeknowingly concealed

Common misspellings

knowlinglyknowledgly

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written