ICYMI

ICYMI means “in case you missed it.” It introduces something worth a second look: news, an announcement, or a post people may have scrolled past.

What does ICYMI mean?

ICYMI is short for “in case you missed it.” News outlets, brands and ordinary users put it in front of a link or update they shared earlier, or one that got buried in a busy feed. It’s a polite way to repeat yourself without sounding pushy.

Among friends it can be playful or pointed: “icymi, I’m still waiting for that $20” is a reminder dressed up as news.

How to use ICYMI

• “ICYMI: the meeting moved to 3 p.m.”
• “ICYMI, here’s our full interview from last week.”
• “Icymi I got the job!!”
• “ICYMI, tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10.”

Is ICYMI professional?

In most workplaces, yes. It’s common in newsletters, company social media accounts and internal updates. In a very formal email, “in case you missed it” spelled out, or simply “as a reminder,” is the safer choice.

Where ICYMI comes from

ICYMI became common on Twitter, where fast-moving timelines make it easy to miss posts. Merriam-Webster added it to its dictionary in April 2016, in the same update as FOMO and TMI. Its first use isn’t documented.

Related terms

• TL;DR: too long; didn’t read.
• Oomf: one of my followers.
• Iykyk: if you know, you know.

See more terms like this in our texting abbreviations guide.