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Dictionary.com
Definitions

in the know

ADJECTIVE
acquainted
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abreast conversant informed
STRONG
advised enlightened familiarized
WEAK
apprised of clued in familiar with versed in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorant
ADJECTIVE
aware
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alive appreciative apprehensive attentive awake cognizant conscious familiar informed mindful receptive wise
WEAK
acquainted alert appraised apprised au courant cool enlightened go-go groovy grounded heedful hip in the picture into know the score know what's what know-how knowing latched on on the beam on to perceptive plugged in savvy sensible sentient sharp tuned-in up on wise to wised up with it
Antonyms
STRONGEST
heedless ignorant inattentive neglectful unaware unconscious unfamiliar unfriendly uninformed unknowledgeable
WEAK
insensitive
ADJECTIVE
cognizant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
apprehensive conscious informed judicious knowledgeable observant
WEAK
acquainted alive au courant awake conversant down with familiar grounded hep to hip to in on in the picture knowing on the beam on to perceptive plugged in savvy sensible sentient tuned-in up on versed wise to with it witting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorant indifferent senseless thoughtless unaware uninformed unmindful
WEAK
unfamiliar unknowledgeable unwitting
ADJECTIVE
erudite
Synonyms
STRONGEST
knowledgeable literate scholarly
WEAK
brainy cultivated educated highbrow into learned lettered savvy scholastic studious well-read wise up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
uneducated
WEAK
common ignorant uncultured
ADJECTIVE
experienced
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accomplished capable competent mature professional qualified seasoned skillful sophisticated trained veteran wise
STRONG
accustomed cultivated dynamite instructed matured practiced rounded sport tested tried versed vet
WEAK
adept been around been there broken in expert familiar having something on the ball knowing one's stuff knowing the score old old hand practical pro the right stuff well-versed worldly worldly-wise
Antonyms
STRONGEST
amateur green ignorant incapable incompetent inept inexperienced unable unskilled unskillful untalented untrained
WEAK
immature unfamiliar unknowledgeable unseasoned unsophisticated
ADJECTIVE
familiar
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquainted aware conversant
STRONG
savvy versant
WEAK
abreast apprised at home with au courant au fait cognizant conscious grounded in on informed introduced kept posted mindful no stranger to plugged in tuned-in up up on versed in well up in with it
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorant
WEAK
aloof cold cool distant foreign new reserved strange unacquainted unapproachable uncommon undistinguished unfamiliar unfriendly unknowledgeable unknown unremarkable
ADJECTIVE
informed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abreast knowledgeable learned
STRONG
acquainted apprized briefed enlightened posted primed savvy up versed
WEAK
au courant au fait erudite expert familiar into know the score know what's what on top of reliable tuned-in up on up-to-date versant well-read wise to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorant uninformed
WEAK
unaware unknowledgeable
ADJECTIVE
knowledgeable
Synonyms
STRONGEST
appreciative brilliant conscious conversant discerning experienced informed insightful intelligent learned perceptive sensible smart sophisticated well-informed well-rounded wise
STRONG
apprised au courant au fait
WEAK
abreast acquainted with alert brainy bright clever cognizant erudite familiar with knowing lettered omniscient plugged in posted prescient privy quick-witted sagacious sage savvy scholarly sharp sophic tuned-in understanding versed with it
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorant inexperienced unaware uninformed unintelligent unknowledgeable unreasonable unsophisticated unwise
WEAK
uneducated
ADJECTIVE
learned
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accomplished educated scholarly scientific studied well-educated
STRONG
cultivated cultured experienced grave grounded lettered versed
WEAK
abstruse academic bookish brainy conversant deep erudite esoteric expert highbrow intellectual judicious literary literate omniscient pansophic pedantic philosophic philosophical polymath professorial recondite sage sapient sharp skilled solemn solid sound studious well-grounded well-read well-rounded
Antonyms
STRONGEST
uneducated
STRONG
green ignorant immature inexperienced unsophisticated
WEAK
stupid uninformed
ADJECTIVE
mindful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
apprehensive careful cautious cognizant conscious conversant knowledgeable observant respectful solicitous vigilant wary watchful
WEAK
alert alive to au courant be up on cagey chary conscientious heedful know all the answers know ins and outs knowing observative observing on one's toes on the ball on the job on to plugged in regardful sensible thoughtful tuned-in with eyes peeled
Antonyms
STRONGEST
careless heedless ignorant inattentive incautious indifferent indiscreet negligent quiet rash thoughtless unafraid unaware uncareful uninformed unmindful unobservant unworried
WEAK
absent-minded
ADJECTIVE
privy
Synonyms
WEAK
acquainted apprised cognizant conscious in on informed
Antonyms
WEAK
unaware unknowing
ADJECTIVE
savvy
Synonyms
STRONG
acute calculating cunning discerning experienced keen knowing sharp slick smart smooth wise
WEAK
astute brainy cagey canny clever crafty farsighted foxy heady ingenious intelligent judicious on the ball perceptive sagacious sensible sly streetwise
Antonyms
STRONG
blunt coarse dull ignorant inexperienced kind naive obtuse rough slow stupid unclever unintelligent unstylish
ADJECTIVE
shrewd
Synonyms
STRONGEST
astute cagey canny crafty farsighted ingenious judicious keen penetrating perceptive probing prudent sensible sharp slick sly smart wily wise
WEAK
acute argute artful astucious brainy calculating cunning cutting deep discerning discriminating foxy heady inside knowing on the inside on top of perspicacious piercing profound quick-witted sagacious savvy shark slippery smooth streetwise tricky underhand up on wised up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
blunt dull foolish honest idiotic ignorant inept obtuse senseless slow stupid unclever unintelligent unreasonable unstylish unwise
WEAK
frivolous naive unthinking
ADJECTIVE
sophisticated
Synonyms
STRONGEST
mature practical refined worldly
STRONG
bored citified cool cultivated disenchanted disillusioned experienced jaded knowing practiced schooled seasoned smooth studied
WEAK
adult artificial been around blasé couth cynical in into jet-set laid-back mondaine on to sharp skeptical stagy streetwise suave svelte switched-on uptown urbane well-bred wise to wised-up with it world-weary worldly-wise
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inexperienced unrefined unsophisticated
STRONG
enchanted encouraged enthusiastic excited uncool
WEAK
easy naive simple slow uncultivated uncultured
ADJECTIVE
versant
Synonyms
STRONG
savvy versed
WEAK
abreast acquainted apprised at home with au courant au fait aware cognizant conscious conversant grounded in on informed introduced kept posted mindful no stranger to plugged in tuned-in up up on versed in well up in with it
ADJECTIVE
versed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquainted competent conversant knowledgeable practiced proficient skilled
STRONG
accomplished familiar learned qualified savvy seasoned trained up versant veteran
WEAK
abreast au courant au fait practical tuned-in up on well-informed
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorant incompetent inept unable
STRONG
inexperienced unskilled
WEAK
green immature
ADJECTIVE
well-informed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
educated intelligent knowledgeable
WEAK
aware schooled trained versed with it
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignorant stupid uneducated
WEAK
unintelligent
ADJECTIVE
with it
Synonyms
WEAK
alive apprehensive au courant awake aware chic conscious cool familiar groovy hep to hip to in in fashion in on in vogue informed knowing knowledgeable latest mod now observant on to perceptive plugged in savvy switched on trendy tuned-in up on versed wise to

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sign up now to be the first in the know.

From Barron's • Mar. 1, 2026

And yet, for those in the know, there’s no greater privilege.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

Sign up now to be the first in the know, and receive the inaugural edition.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 6, 2026

To people in the know, it was a Bat Signal of cool, or at least close enough to it.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2025

It is also quite helpful for spotting other rêveurs, a simple signal for those in the know.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern