knowingly
gb/nˈoʊɪŋli/ us/nˈoʊɪŋli/
B2
English
tudatosan, szándékosan, cinkosan, jelentőségteljesen
B2
1
tudatosan
B2
szándékosan
B1
Usage pattern:
knowingly [do something]
She knowingly deleted the file before anyone could stop her.
Tudatosan törölte a fájlt, mielőtt bárki megakadályozhatta volna ebben.
He knowingly paid too much because he wanted to support the local shop.
Tudatosan fizetett a kelleténél többet, mert támogatni akarta a helyi boltot.
They knowingly ignored the warning signs and went ahead anyway.
Learner examples
I did not knowingly break the rule.
Nem tudatosan szegtem meg a szabályt.
She knowingly told a lie.
Tudatosan hazudott.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with "knowing" (adjective/gerund). "Knowingly" describes how an action is done.
Meaning
intentionally; with awareness
Collocations
knowingly do something
|knowingly ignore
|knowingly allow
|knowingly mislead
|knowingly lie
|knowingly break the rules
|knowingly spread
|knowingly harm
|knowingly provide
|knowingly choose
Synonyms
intentionally (More neutral and common for deliberate actions.)
|
deliberately (Often suggests careful decision or purpose.)
|
on purpose (More informal and conversational.)
Antonyms
accidentally (Happening by mistake, not intended.)
|
unknowingly (Done without realizing the relevant facts.)
Themes
daily_life
|communication
|behavior
Definition
on purpose, not by accident
In a deliberate way, with awareness of what you are doing or what the facts are.
C1
2
cinkosan
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] smile/look/nod knowingly
When the boss mentioned layoffs, a few managers exchanged looks and smiled knowingly.
Amikor a főnök elbocsátásokat említett, néhány vezető összenézett, és cinkosan elmosolyodtak.
He nodded knowingly, as if he had heard the story before.
Jelentőségteljesen bólintott, mintha már hallotta volna a történetet.
She glanced at me knowingly when the surprise was almost revealed.
Learner examples
He smiled knowingly.
Cinkosan elmosolyodott.
They looked at each other knowingly.
Cinkosan összenéztek.
Common mistake:
This sense is about an expression or manner (a knowing smile), not about doing something illegally or deliberately.
Meaning
in a way that shows shared understanding
Collocations
smile knowingly
|look knowingly
|nod knowingly
|raise an eyebrow knowingly
|glance knowingly
|say something knowingly
|laugh knowingly
Synonyms
meaningfully (Suggests an unspoken message, but not always shared knowledge.)
|
knowingly (Implies awareness or an inside understanding.)
Antonyms
blankly (With no sign of understanding.)
|
innocently (Without suggesting hidden knowledge or implication.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|relationships
Definition
showing you understand something without saying it
In a way that shows you understand something (often something not said openly), or that you share a secret or inside knowledge with someone else.
C1
LEGAL
3
tudatosan
B2
Usage pattern:
knowingly [violate/break/falsify] [law/rule/document]
The company was fined for knowingly violating safety regulations.
A céget megbírságolták, mert tudatosan megszegte a biztonsági előírásokat.
He was accused of knowingly making false statements on the application.
Azzal vádolták, hogy a jelentkezési lapon tudatosan valótlan adatokat adott meg.
The policy applies only if the employee acted knowingly.
Learner examples
He knowingly broke the law.
Tudatosan megszegte a törvényt.
They were punished for knowingly lying on the form.
Azért büntették meg őket, mert tudatosan valótlan adatokat adtak meg az űrlapon.
Common mistake:
In legal contexts, "knowingly" usually refers to awareness of facts, not necessarily wanting the bad result.
Meaning
with knowledge of wrongdoing (legal)
Collocations
knowingly violate the law
|knowingly fail to disclose
|knowingly falsify records
|knowingly make a false statement
|knowingly possess
|knowingly distribute
|knowingly participate in
|knowingly permit
Synonyms
wittingly (Formal/legal synonym; less common in everyday speech.)
|
with full knowledge (Emphasizes clear awareness of the facts.)
Antonyms
without knowledge (Lacking awareness of key facts.)
|
inadvertently (Unintentionally, often in formal contexts.)
Themes
law
|government
|business
Definition
knowing it is wrong or illegal when you do it
With awareness of key facts that make an act improper or unlawful, especially as a condition for responsibility in legal or official contexts.
Grammar
Dictionary form
knowingly
IPA
GB/nˈoʊɪŋli/
US/nˈoʊɪŋli/
Syllables & stress
know - ingly (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (know)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: knowingly
- Plural: knowinglies
Word family
Forms
knowinglies
noun
Core family
Related words
knowledgeably
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unknown
adjective A2
unknowingly
adverb
Advanced or less common
knowable
adjective
unknowable
adjective
Expressions
knowingly and willingly
1/nˈoʊɪŋli ˈænd wˈɪlɪŋli/
fixed phrase
formal
with awareness and choice
knowing what you are doing and choosing to do it
Examples
- By signing, you confirm that you acted knowingly and willingly.
- The court considered whether he had acted knowingly and willingly.
Learner examples
- She signed knowingly and willingly.
knowingly or unknowingly
1/nˈoʊɪŋli ˈɔɹ ʌnnˈoʊɪŋli/
fixed phrase
whether aware or not
if you know it or if you do not know it
Examples
- People can spread misinformation knowingly or unknowingly.
- She may have offended him, knowingly or unknowingly, with that comment.
Learner examples
- He hurt her knowingly or unknowingly.