Knowingly
adv.thoughtful, calmformal
What it means
With conscious awareness of what one is doing or implying.
Reach for it when making clear that an action or expression was not accidental
He knowingly accepted the harder route because it protected the wetland.
Choose between these
6- playful
slyly
private amusement or cunning shapes expression
not when Slyly adds secrecy and possible manipulation.
- everyday
the action was chosen for a purpose
not when Deliberately proves intention; knowingly may only prove awareness.
- warm
a gesture conveys understood significance
not when Meaningfully does not establish responsibility for an action.
- professional
consciously
active awareness accompanied the choice
not when Consciously can sound clinical when responsibility is the point.
- professional
the outcome itself was meant
not when Someone may accept an outcome knowingly without causing it intentionally.
- formal
wittingly
a legal contrast with unwitting action is useful
not when Wittingly is uncommon and may distract readers.
Said against
3- unknowingly
- accidentally
- innocently
It naturally appears in
3- knowingly accepted
She knowingly accepted a slower process to protect the archive.
- knowingly smiled
The grandfather knowingly smiled as the children found the drawer.
- acted knowingly
The panel acted knowingly after every conflict was disclosed.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adverb sense: with knowledge or awareness opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.