"knowing" definition, meaning, and origin

Adjective

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:
Deliberate, wilful.
Shrewd or showing clever awareness; discerning.
- a knowing rascal
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,...
- 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...
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...
- 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...

Etymology tree English know English -ing English knowing From know + -ing.

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...

Given my knowledge about someone or something.
- Knowing you, you would try not to be late for school.