Humor Web Humor What Does IDK Mean? People love to use this popular acronym whenever they get the chance Share PINTEREST Email Print Web Humor Memes Holiday Humor By Elise Moreau Elise Moreau BCom. in Business and Information Technology, University of Ontario Post-Graduate Diploma, Small Business Entrepreneurship, George Brown College Elise Moreau is a writer that has covered social media, messaging, and streaming. Her work has appeared on Techvibes, SlashGear, Lifehack, and others. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 03/21/19 IDK is one of the more popular online acronyms that can be seen and used everywhere—from text messages and online chats to social networking status updates and photo captions. IDK stands for: I Don't Know. Whether you simply don't understand something, don't have enough information to come to a conclusion or just don't really care, IDK is the acronym that can help you express your uncertainty or doubt in the quickest way possible. How IDK Is Used IDK is used exactly the same way that it's used in everyday, face-to-face language. It might be used in a conversation as a means of expressing uncertainty when trying to come up with an answer to a question, or it might be used in a statement or comment to describe something unknown. Examples of IDK in Use Example 1 Friend #1: "Hey what time are we all meeting up tmrw?" Friend #2: "IDK" Here's a basic example of how someone might use IDK and nothing more to answer a question. If you don't know, then you don't know! And IDK easily gets that point across. Example 2 Friend #1: "Finals are next week already, u started studying yet?" Friend #2: "No way, IDK where the time even went... I'm so behind..." In this next example, Friend #2 uses IDK in a sentence. In this case, it's followed by "where," but it can also be used along with the other four of the five Ws—who, what, when and why (and even how). Example 3 Instagram photo caption: "IDK what else to say about this selfie other than I'm really feelin' my look today!" This last example simply shows how IDK can be used in a general statement as opposed to a reply in a conversation. It's not uncommon to see IDK pop up in Facebook status updates, Twitter tweets, Instagram captions and other types of social networking posts. IK: The Opposite of IDK In everyday language, the opposite of saying "I don't know" is "I know." The same goes for internet and text slang — meaning that you can use the simple acronym IK to say "I know". Similar Acronyms to IDK IDW: I Don't Want IDW is an acronym you might want to use to specify something unwanted. Unlike IDK, IDW is almost always used in a sentence with reference to the unwanted thing following directly after the acronym. (Ex. IDW to go to school today.) IDTS: I Don't Think So This acronym expresses more doubt than uncertainty. Although IDK can be used to suggest doubt, it's better suited if you're looking to take a more neutral stance of complete uncertainty. IDTS suggests that the person has taken what they know about a situation into consideration and mostly disagrees or disapproves—yet still retains a small hint of uncertainty. IDC: I Don't Care IDC is better used to express indifference whereas IDK is ideal for expressing uncertainty. Both can sometimes be used interchangeably depending on context. IDGAF: I Don't Give A F*** IDGAF is a much harsher and more vulgar version of IDC. Its use of the F-word adds touches of exaggeration and hostility that might convey strong feelings of anger, frustration, impatience or some other negative emotion.