What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Acquaintance vs Knowing - What's the difference?

acquaintance | knowing |

As nouns the difference between acquaintance and knowing

is that acquaintance is (uncountable) a state of being acquainted, or of having intimate, or more than slight or superficial, knowledge; personal knowledge gained by intercourse short of that of friendship or intimacy while knowing is the act or condition of having knowledge.

As an adjective knowing is

possessing knowledge or understanding; intelligent.

As a verb knowing is

.

acquaintance

English

(Webster 1913)

Alternative forms

* acquaintaunce

Noun

(en noun)
  • (uncountable) A state of being acquainted, or of having intimate, or more than slight or superficial, knowledge; personal knowledge gained by intercourse short of that of friendship or intimacy
    • I know of the man; but have no acquaintance with him.
  • * 1799 , '', in ''The Works , Volume 6, page 22:
    • Contract no friend?hip, or even acquaintance , with a guileful man : he re?embles a coal, which when hot burneth the hand, and when cold blacketh it.
  • (countable) A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.
  • * 1848 , , Chapter XVI:
    • Montgomery was an old acquaintance of Ferguson.

    Usage notes

    * Synonym notes: The words acquaintance , familiarity, and intimacy mark different degrees of closeness in social intercourse. Acquaintance arises from occasional intercourse; as, our acquaintance has been a brief one. We can speak of a slight or an intimate acquaintance. Familiarity is the result of continued acquaintance. It springs from persons being frequently together, so as to wear off all restraint and reserve; as, the familiarity of old companions. Intimacy is the result of close connection, and the freest interchange of thought; as, the intimacy of established friendship.

    Synonyms

    * familiarity, fellowship, intimacy, knowledge * See also

    Derived terms

    * nodding acquaintance

    Related terms

    * acquaint

    References

    * *

    knowing

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Possessing knowledge or understanding; intelligent.
  • * South
    • The knowing and intelligent part of the world.
  • Shrewd or showing clever awareness.
    • a knowing rascal
  • Suggestive of private knowledge.
  • Deliberate

    • Verb

    (head)

    • Derived terms

    * knowingly

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act or condition of having knowledge.
  • * 2009 , Gilbert Ryle, The Concept of Mind: 60th Anniversary Edition (page 194)
    • Sensations then, are not perceivings, observings or findings; they are not detectings, scannings or inspectings; they are not apprehendings, cognisings, intuitings or knowings .