informal
1
—used to emphasize the statement that comes after it
You know what? I never trusted her.
She lied to me again, but you know what? I really just don't care anymore.
2
—used to get someone's attention
Hey, you know what? I'm hungry.
informal
1
—used in speech to refer to something that is not named but is known to both the hearer and speaker
I've hidden the you-know-what in the closet.
2
—used in place of a rude or offensive word in order to express anger or annoyance
He's a complete you-know-what.
Examples of you know what? in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
Watch for the best costume change of the year, right in the middle of you-know-what song.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2024
In my last jobs, everyone was swinging their you-know-what on these types of meetings and everyone wanted to talk and talk and talk and things always went over.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 16 Sep. 2024
In 2016, the Free Press explored the trend of wedding parties using signature Detroit sites for their photos, including you-know-what.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 31 May 2024
Already 220 minutes long, the broadcast window with commercials has ballooned to four hours and 44 minutes, spilling out of primetime before Moses can descend from Mount Sinai with the you-know-what.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Bringing a cool as a you-know-what appeal to the refreshing sipper.
—Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2023
Parker had no time to sit and shoot the you-know-what with the you-know-whats.
—Tom Noie, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
That is an axis of you-know-what, and should concentrate the mind.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 14 Mar. 2025
Watch for the best costume change of the year, right in the middle of you-know-what song.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2024
In my last jobs, everyone was swinging their you-know-what on these types of meetings and everyone wanted to talk and talk and talk and things always went over.
—R29 Team, refinery29.com, 16 Sep. 2024
In 2016, the Free Press explored the trend of wedding parties using signature Detroit sites for their photos, including you-know-what.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 31 May 2024
Already 220 minutes long, the broadcast window with commercials has ballooned to four hours and 44 minutes, spilling out of primetime before Moses can descend from Mount Sinai with the you-know-what.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
Bringing a cool as a you-know-what appeal to the refreshing sipper.
—Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2023
Parker had no time to sit and shoot the you-know-what with the you-know-whats.
—Tom Noie, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
Cite this Entry
“You know what?.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/you%20know%20what%3F. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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