What Does “It’s Been a Minute” Mean? Definition, Examples, & Origins

PDF download Download Article
Learn how to use this slang expression effortlessly
PDF download Download Article

“It’s been a minute” is another way of saying you haven’t seen someone or done something in several weeks, months, or years. Oftentimes, it’s used when you run into an old friend or acquaintance unexpectedly, but it can also be used to describe an activity or experience you haven’t tried in a while. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about the phrase “It’s been a minute,” including its usage, responses, and origins.

Things You Should Know

  • “It’s been a minute” means you haven't seen someone or done something in a long time.
  • Say “It’s been a minute” if you bump into someone in public, if they text you out of the blue, or if you haven't done an activity in a while.
  • "It’s been a hot minute" is another way of saying “It’s been a really long time.”
Section 1 of 5:

What does “It’s been a minute” mean?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Used over text and in person, “It’s been a minute” means you haven’t seen someone or done something in a while. [1] Since it’s a slang expression, reserve it for casual conversations with friends, family members, your significant other, or close colleagues.
    • Them: “Want to hit Laguna next Saturday?🏄”
    • You: “Sure! It’s been a minute since I went to the beach…What are you bringing?”
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:

When & How to Use “It’s Been a Minute”

PDF download Download Article
  1. Did you just bump into your former classmate at a party or have a childhood friend text you unexpectedly? “It’s been a minute” is the perfect phrase to highlight that you haven’t seen or spoken to someone in ages. Use it to reconnect with someone , make plans together, or simply be polite .
    • “Julie? Wow! It’s been a minute since I’ve seen you. You look great!!”
    • “OMG, it’s been a minute since I last talked to you. How’s life been lately?✨”
    • “Yo, Dan! It’s been a minute since I last saw you! Are you still working at Dell?”
  2. If it’s been weeks, months, or years since you last experienced something, use “It’s been a minute” to express that you’re a little rusty or unprepared. It communicates that you’ve done the activity before, but you might not remember all the details.
    • “It’s been a minute since I went snowboarding, so go easy on me.”
    • “Actually, I think I’ll order the bolognese. It’s been a minute since I’ve eaten pasta.”
    • “I think we’re going to visit the Statue of Liberty. It’s been a minute since we’ve done tourist-y things as a family🗽”
    3. Advertisement
Section 3 of 5:

How to Respond to “It’s Been a Minute”

PDF download Download Article
  1. This gets rid of any awkwardness and lets the other person know that you’re willing to continue your relationship. Smile, maintain eye contact, and express genuine interest in their life to make them feel valued . If you like, suggest plans to meet up in the future, or politely wish them well if you don’t want to reconnect.
    • “It really has been a minute! I want to say 2 or 3 years to be exact…How have you been, and is everything alright with your family?”
    • “Wow, it’s so great to see you! I can’t believe it’s been a year since I last saw you. How is life? I saw you got married on Facebook, so congratulations!”
    • “OMG, I was just thinking about you the other day. Thanks for reaching out! What have you been up to for the past 6 months? I saw you just launched a new product—that’s so exciting😁”
  2. If someone mentions that they haven’t experienced something in a long time, ask them follow-up questions to be friendly and show interest in their life. These questions depend on the context of your conversation, but some versatile questions include:
    • “Are you nervous about doing it again?”
    • “Wow, when was the last time you did that?”
    • “Just curious, is there a reason you haven’t done that in a while?”
    • “What are you looking forward to the most when you try that again?”
    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 5:

Origins of “It’s Been a Minute”

PDF download Download Article
  1. Although the exact origin of the phrase is unknown, “It’s been a minute” is an understatement that was first recorded by African Americans in the 1970s. It was later adopted by college students, before spreading into mainstream culture. [2]
    • Some believe that the phrase derives from “It was a hot minute,” which dates back as early as 1847 (from Douglas Jerrold’s The History of St. Giles and St. James ).
Section 5 of 5:

What does “It’s been a hot minute” mean?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Originally, the expression “a hot minute” meant an extremely short period of time, but beginning in the late 2000s, people began using it to refer to an extremely long period of time. “It’s been a hot minute” means you haven’t seen someone or done something familiar in several months or years. [3]
    • “It’s been a hot minute since I went on a date. And by a hot minute, I mean 5 years😳”
    • “It’s been a hot minute since I ate McDonald’s. I think I might have been 11 years old actually…”
    • “It’s been a hot minute since I presented something, so I’m just warning you that I might sound nervous.”
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      What Does “Pookie” Mean? Plus, How to Use It
      200+ Best Expressions to Say “I Love You More than…”
      What's a Twunk? Definition, When to Use & More
      What Does “Awww” Mean? Definition, Responses & More
      What Does W/ Mean over Text or Online?
      Funny Ways to Say Hello: 45 Cool and Creative Options
      Signs That Someone Has "Golden Retriever Energy"
      Are Evening and Night the Same Thing? Not Exactly.
      What Does "Hear Me Out" Mean? Plus, How to Use It
      What Does SS Mean? Snapchat, Texting, and More
      What Does "BBL" Mean? Definition & Uses on Social Media and More
      What Does WYD Mean? Snapchat, Texting, and More
      What Does “I Love You 3000” Mean and What Do You Say Back?
      What Does the Slang Term "Cutie Patootie" Mean?
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://rapdictionary.com/meaning/been-a-minute/
      2. ↑ https://www.waywordradio.org/its-been-a-minute/#
      3. ↑ https://sloah.com/2022/10/10/hot-minute/

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 15,242 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement