knowingly
gb/nˈoʊɪŋli/ us/nˈoʊɪŋli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
intentionally; with awareness
on purpose, not by accident
Usage pattern:
knowingly [do something]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with "knowing" (adjective/gerund). "Knowingly" describes how an action is done.
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.)
Collocations
knowingly do something
|knowingly ignore
|knowingly allow
|knowingly mislead
|knowingly lie
|knowingly break the rules
|knowingly spread
|knowingly harm
|knowingly provide
|knowingly choose
Themes
daily_life
|communication
|behavior
Examples
- She knowingly deleted the file before anyone could stop her.
- He knowingly paid too much because he wanted to support the local shop.
- They knowingly ignored the warning signs and went ahead anyway.
Learner examples
- I did not knowingly break the rule.
- She knowingly told a lie.
adverb
C1
property
2
in a way that shows shared understanding
showing you understand something without saying it
Usage pattern:
[someone] smile/look/nod knowingly
Common mistake:
This sense is about an expression or manner (a knowing smile), not about doing something illegally or deliberately.
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.)
Collocations
smile knowingly
|look knowingly
|nod knowingly
|raise an eyebrow knowingly
|glance knowingly
|say something knowingly
|laugh knowingly
Themes
communication
|emotions
|relationships
Examples
- When the boss mentioned layoffs, a few managers exchanged looks and smiled knowingly.
- He nodded knowingly, as if he had heard the story before.
- She glanced at me knowingly when the surprise was almost revealed.
Learner examples
- He smiled knowingly.
- They looked at each other knowingly.
adverb
legal
C1
property
3
with knowledge of wrongdoing (legal)
knowing it is wrong or illegal when you do it
Usage pattern:
knowingly [violate/break/falsify] [law/rule/document]
Common mistake:
In legal contexts, "knowingly" usually refers to awareness of facts, not necessarily wanting the bad result.
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.)
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
Themes
law
|government
|business
Examples
- The company was fined for knowingly violating safety regulations.
- He was accused of knowingly making false statements on the application.
- The policy applies only if the employee acted knowingly.
Learner examples
- He knowingly broke the law.
- They were punished for knowingly lying on the form.
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.
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.