orbiting
Orbiting is when someone stops talking to you but keeps watching your social media: viewing every story, liking posts, staying in your feed, without ever actually reaching out.
What does orbiting mean?
An orbiter is close enough to see your life but never close enough to have a conversation. Maybe it is an ex, maybe someone you went on two dates with who then went quiet. They don’t message, but they are always first to watch your story. It keeps them in your awareness, and keeps the door slightly open on their terms.
How to use it
- “He ghosted me in March but still watches every story. He’s orbiting.”
- “Is it orbiting if she only likes my posts at 2 a.m.?”
- “I muted my ex. The orbiting was messing with my head.”
- “Orbiting is ghosting with extra steps.”
Where it comes from
The term was coined in 2018 by writer Anna Iovine in an article for the fashion and culture site Man Repeller, describing exactly this kind of social-media hovering. It was quickly picked up by other publications as the next step after ghosting.
Orbiting vs. ghosting vs. breadcrumbing
- Ghosting: they vanish completely.
- Orbiting: they vanish from your messages but stay in your notifications.
- Breadcrumbing: they send occasional messages to keep you hooked, without committing.
Related terms
- ghosting: disappearing without explanation
- breadcrumbing: just enough attention to keep someone hooked
- benching: keeping someone as a backup
- situationship: a relationship with no label
- finsta: a secondary Instagram account
See more terms like this in our dating slang dictionary.
Example sentence
He ghosted me in March but still watches every story. He’s orbiting.
Notes
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