Unknowingly
/ʌnˈnoʊɪŋli/
Definitions
Without knowledge or awareness of something; unconsciously.
/ʌnˈnoʊɪŋli/
Without being aware or conscious of something.
She unknowingly ate the peanuts, unaware of her allergy.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're telling a secret, and you accidentally let it slip to the person the secret is about! That's doing something unknowingly – without meaning to and without realizing it.
👶 For kids: Doing something without knowing you're doing it, like if you bump into someone while you're looking at something else.
More Examples
He unknowingly offended his friend by making a joke about their sensitive topic.
The detective unknowingly followed the wrong suspect for hours.
How It's Used
"She unknowingly revealed the surprise party plans."
"The defendant unknowingly possessed the illegal substance."
"He stepped unknowingly into a trap of his own making."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
in the know
Having secret or privileged information.
"He's in the know about the company's plans."
know someone inside and out
To know someone very well, including their personality, habits, and secrets.
"After 20 years of marriage, she knew her husband inside and out."
From Middle English *unknowingly*, equivalent to *un-* + *know* + *-ing* + *-ly*. The prefix 'un-' indicates negation.
The word 'unknowingly' has been used since at least the late 16th century, appearing in the works of Shakespeare and other writers. Its usage aligns with the broader development of words formed by combining prefixes and suffixes to root words.
Memory tip
Think of someone sleepwalking - they're doing things unknowingly.