Word
unknowingly
Phoneticsun·know·ing·ly
US/ənˈnoʊɪŋɫi/
UK/ʌnnˈəʊɪŋli/
Definition
adv. doing something without realizing it. You use this when you don't have the information or awareness that you are doing a specific thing.
adv. without knowledge or awareness of a particular fact or situation. Often modifies verbs related to participation or influence.
Examples
“She unknowingly walked into the wrong meeting room.”
“The hikers unknowingly crossed the border into the neighboring country while following an unmarked trail.”
“By signing the updated terms of service without reading the fine print, many users unknowingly granted the company permission to sell their browsing data to third-party advertisers.”
Examples
simple
“She unknowingly walked into the wrong meeting room.”
contextual
“The hikers unknowingly crossed the border into the neighboring country while following an unmarked trail.”
complex
“By signing the updated terms of service without reading the fine print, many users unknowingly granted the company permission to sell their browsing data to third-party advertisers.”
Usage
Typically placed before the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
He did it unknowing
He did it unknowingly
Learners often use the adjective 'unknowing' where the adverb 'unknowingly' is required to modify an action.
Real-World Examples
“It can develop from a single asbestos fibre lodged in the lungs, often unknowingly breathed in many decades earlier.” “For people unknowingly targeted in secret recordings, the only safety feature Meta provides is nearly “useless,” Quintin told Ars.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/unknowingly