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.

The heavy buying of shares by those supposedly in the know is something many investors follow.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

There were small cheers from those in the know as the rocket past the moment of maximum danger - one minute and 10 seconds into the launch.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

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

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

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

in the know

Example Sentences

Related Words