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Definition of unknowing

unknowing

/ʌnˈnoʊ.ɪŋ/
un · know · ing
Adverb:unknowingly
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unknowing Lexical Profile

unknowing Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Not knowing or aware of the facts or circumstances; acting without knowledge or conscious intention.

Example

"The tourists were unknowing participants in a local street performance."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

The state or condition of not knowing; ignorance or lack of awareness, especially as a philosophical or spiritual concept.

Example

"The philosopher encouraged her students to embrace a state of humble unknowing before seeking new answers."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for unknowing

• Nearby Words

unkink
unknot
unknowable
unknowing
unknowingly
unknowledgeable
unknown

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the prefix 'un-' and 'knowing', with the noun sense famously popularized by the 14th-century Christian mystical treatise 'The Cloud of Unknowing'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Unknowing. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/unknowing
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