unknowingly

/ʌnˈnəʊɪŋli/ (bre, ipa) · [ənnˈoɪŋli] /ʌnˈnəʊɪŋli/ (ame, ipa)

unknowingly — adverb

1. doing or saying something without realising a particular aspect of the situation

1.副詞B2
釋義

doing or saying something without realising a particular aspect of the situation

例句

Ravindra unknowingly offended his aunt by commenting on the food she had cooked.

unknowingly + past tense verb for unintended result

The museum guard unknowingly let the thief walk past with a stolen painting.

unknowingly + let + object + bare infinitive

同義詞
  • unconsciously

    suggests an automatic or instinctive action; less about knowledge and more about lack of deliberate thought

  • inadvertently

    more formal; focuses on lack of attention rather than lack of knowledge

  • unwittingly

    very similar in meaning but slightly more formal; often used in legal or formal writing

  • accidentally

    broader — covers any unintended action, whether from lack of knowledge or physical mishap

反義詞

文法句型

subject + unknowingly + main verb (simple tenses)

subject + had + unknowingly + past participle (past perfect)

By + gerund + subject + unknowingly + verb

用法筆記

Commonly used with verbs that describe causing a result, such as offend, reveal, break, create, or help. The adverb can appear before the main verb, after a helping verb (had unknowingly), or at the end of a clause for emphasis.

常見錯誤

❌I unknowingly didn't see the sign.
✅I didn't see the sign.
💡'Unknowingly' describes how you did something, not that you failed to do it. Use it with an action you actually performed.
❌She was unknowingly of the danger.
✅She was unaware of the danger.
💡'Unknowingly' is an adverb, not an adjective. Use 'unaware' or 'unknowing' after a linking verb.