BRB

BRB means “be right back.” People send it when they’re stepping away from a chat, game or stream for a moment and plan to return soon.

What does BRB mean?

BRB is short for “be right back.” It tells the people you’re talking to that you haven’t left the conversation, you just need a minute: to answer the door, grab a drink, or deal with something offline. When you come back, a quick “back” lets everyone know.

It’s used in texts and group chats, but it’s especially common in online games and on livestreams, where a streamer might put up a “BRB” screen during a short break.

How to use BRB

• “Brb, someone’s at the door.”
• “BRB, grabbing food, don’t start the next round without me.”
• “Hold that thought, brb.”
• “Brb, my phone’s about to die.”

BRB and related abbreviations

• afk: away from keyboard. Similar, but used more in gaming. See AFK.
• g2g or gtg: got to go, meaning you’re leaving.
• ttyl: talk to you later.
• back or bk: sent when you return.

The difference matters: BRB promises you’ll return soon, while gtg and ttyl mean the conversation is over for now.

Where BRB comes from

BRB is one of the original chat abbreviations from the early days of online chat rooms, instant messaging and multiplayer games, when stepping away from a shared conversation needed a quick explanation. There’s no documented first use.

Related terms

• AFK: away from keyboard.
• LOL: laughing out loud.
• BTW: by the way.
• Wyd: what (are) you doing?

See more terms like this in our texting abbreviations guide.