you know

First attested as a filled pause in the early 18th century, as a euphemism in the mid-19th century.^[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /juː nəʊ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ju noʊ/

  • Audio (Mid-Atlantic US):

    (file)

you know

1. (informal) Expression signifying a pause or hesitation.
   • 2002 December 15, “Interview with David Beckham”, in Breakfast with Frost‎^[1], spoken by David Beckham, via BBC:

     I don’t usually get nervous in games and, you know, taking free kicks and penalties but that’s the first time I’ve been that nervous in, in a game, where I have to, I’m in a situation where I’m, you know […]

   • 2013, Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight (motion picture), spoken by Jesse (Ethan Hawke):

     Once, I remember, I was watching the twins on a trampoline, you know, and they looked so beautiful, and I was happy because they were happy, you know.

2. (informal) Expression used to imply meaning, rather than say it, such as when a person is embarrassed.

   A: I heard you want to... do something with me.
   B: Do what?
   A: You know... umm...
   B: Sex?
   A: Yeah.

3. (informal) Used as a rhetorical question to confirm agreement, knowing or understanding at the end of a statement.

   But I guess that's life, you know?

   I just wasn't into it, you know?

   • 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 198:

     This was already a fresh departure for me. I was not used to get things that way, you know.

   • 2024 January 29 [2024 January 26], Tim Lee, Ray Chung, quoting Brendan Kavanagh, “London YouTuber hid in van, received death threats after piano face-off”, in Luisetta Mudie, transl., Radio Free Asia‎^[2], archived from the original on 29 January 2024:

     "I heard Winnie the Pooh was like garlic to a vampire to the Chinese commies," he said. "Popular arts and music, poetry, dancing and singing is a threat to those in power, and I'm really trying to bring back that rock-and-roll rebellious spirit into music, you know."

4. (informal) Used to introduce information.

   You know, he's actually pretty nice.

   • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Engineering, SSV Normandy:

     Tali: You know, there's always a few who go on their Pilgrimages and never return. I always assumed something bad happened to them, but maybe they just wanted a different life.

   • 2016, Voice of America, Learning English‎^[3] (public domain), archived from the original on 2017-09-25:

     Audio (US):

     (file)

     You know, Pete, I am new to D.C. The city is big. — Yeah. But you learn a little more every day.

5. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see you,‎ know.

• y'know, yunno (slang, pronunciation spelling)

• (generic fillers): right, like; er, erm, um
• (confirming attention, understanding, and/or agreement): you see, do you know what I'm saying, you know what I'm saying, right, eh, don't you know

• “you know”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “you know” in Idioms and phrases, TheFreeDictionary.com, Huntingdon Valley, Pa.: Farlex, Inc., 2003–2024.