God knows

Idioms

Also, goodness knows; heaven knows.
Truly, certainly, definitely, as in God knows I need a winter coat . This expression, which originated about 1300 as God wot , does not necessarily imply that God is all-knowing but merely emphasizes the truth of the statement it accompanies. The variants using goodness and heaven are euphemisms that avoid taking God's name in vain. [Second half of 1500s]
Also, God only knows . Only God knows, that is, neither I nor anyone else knows, as in God knows where I've stored those photos , or God only knows how many people will join the march . [Second half of 1500s]

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.

God knows he’d have been blamed had the high-risk mission failed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

“The Creature learns quickly because its brain and its bodies have already lived once. God knows what this Creature knew before he forgot and needed to be reminded.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2025

"You know, they say money can't buy happiness and... I guess that's true. God knows I've tried," the message says in one video shared multiple times on social media.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2025

"God knows what he was doing when I was blindfolded," she said.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2025

“If he buy all dat you talkin’ ’bout, Mist’ Starks, God knows whut he do wid it.

From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023