knowingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "knowingly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone is aware of something and acts with that knowledge. For example, "The teenager knowingly broke the rules, expecting to get away with it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Fine Gael's chairman Charlie Flanagan said it was a "pretty dismal precedent" that a member of the Dail would admit to knowingly filing inaccurate returns, which Wallace in his defence insists was only done to save his company from insolvency and rescue the jobs of his workers.

The Guardian

"We would not knowingly associate with the abuse of a disadvantaged group like the refugees.

The Guardian - Opinion

President Obama on Wednesday created the first-ever sanctions program to penalize overseas hackers who engage in cyber-spying and companies that knowingly benefit from the fruits of that espionage, potentially including state-owned corporations in Russia and China.

The Guardian - Tech

Use of children's data Except for children's books and Guardian students, we do not knowingly collect or store any personal information about children under the age of 16. 'Children's books' is a service for children.

The Guardian

Nike has strongly defended itself against insinuations that these overpayments were a form of kickback, saying that the indictment does "not allege that Nike engaged in criminal conduct" or that "any Nike employee was aware of or knowingly participated in any bribery or kickback scheme".

The Guardian - Sport

Mann acknowledged knowingly taking part in the attempt to topple Equatorial Guinea's government, but his lawyer argued he was a secondary player.

The Guardian

In a fact sheet, the White House said the sanctions would also apply to "a corporation that knowingly profits from stolen trade secrets".

The Guardian - Tech

Third parties who knowingly assist a foreign investor to breach the rules will also be subject to civil and criminal penalties, including fines of $45,000 for individuals and $225,000 for companies.

The Guardian - Business

In Clegg's address on Friday, he will formally announce the coalition's intention to introduce cash bonds to discourage people from overstaying on their visas, and double fines for employers who knowingly take on illegal workers.

The Guardian

Given that in both cases, the executive is knowingly attesting to statements he knows to be wrong, lawyers argue that it may be difficult in practice to distinguish between the two crimes.

The Economist

Drug manufacturers and carmakers are not treated kindly by the justice system when they knowingly release products that have a tendency to maim and kill their customers.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing legal violations, use "knowingly" to emphasize the element of intent, which can affect the severity of the charges.

Common error

Avoid using "knowingly" when you mean "unknowingly". "Knowingly" implies awareness, while "unknowingly" means without awareness. Double-check your sentence to ensure the correct word is used to reflect the actor's state of mind.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "knowingly" modifies a verb or adjective to indicate that an action was performed with awareness and understanding. It serves to highlight the actor's mental state and intent behind the action. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in legal and ethical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "knowingly" functions as an adverb that modifies verbs or adjectives by indicating awareness or consciousness. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically correct and frequently used. The adverb appears commonly in news and business contexts. When using "knowingly", ensure that you're accurately conveying the actor's mental state and avoiding confusion with terms like "unknowingly". Semantically related alternatives include "deliberately", "intentionally", and "consciously". Therefore, to best use "knowingly", use the term when there is an action and the individual knew the impact of their action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wittingly

Indicates awareness, often in the context of being complicit in something.

intentionally

Emphasizes the presence of a specific intention or purpose behind the action.

deliberately

Highlights intentional action, sometimes with a negative connotation.

consciously

Stresses awareness and understanding during the action.

with full knowledge

Emphasizes the completeness of the awareness.

purposely

Implies a determined and specific aim or goal.

in full awareness

Highlights the state of being completely conscious of the action and its implications.

advisedly

Suggests careful consideration and awareness of the consequences.

on purpose

A more informal way of saying intentionally.

by design

Focuses on the planned and intentional nature of an action.

FAQs

How can I use "knowingly" in a sentence?

Use "knowingly" to indicate that someone is aware of the facts or implications of their actions. For example, "She "knowingly" violated the terms of the agreement."

What's the difference between "knowingly" and "deliberately"?

"Knowingly" implies awareness of the facts, while "deliberately" suggests a planned and intentional action, often with a specific purpose or goal.

Is there a legal implication of using "knowingly" in a statement?

Yes, in legal contexts, using "knowingly" can indicate that someone was aware their actions were illegal or violated regulations, which is an important element in proving intent.

Which is a better alternative to "knowingly", "intentionally" or "consciously"?

Both "intentionally" and "consciously" are alternatives to "knowingly", but "intentionally" emphasizes purpose and plan, while "consciously" highlights awareness. The best choice depends on which aspect you want to emphasize.