What Does Abs Stand For in a Text and on Social Media?

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Spelling out the meaning of “abs” (plus how to use it)
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You’re texting your friend about hanging out when they message back “abs!” That sounds promising…but what exactly does “abs” mean again? If you’re not sure what to make of this slang term, we’re here to help. We’ll tell you what abs means in a text and on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, how to use it, and what it can mean in other contexts. Read on to stay up to date with this internet lingo!

Things You Should Know

  • “Abs” means absolutely in texts and online. People use it as another way to say “Yes,” or to show that they completely agree with someone.
  • Use “Abs” to give your seal of approval, to enthusiastically confirm to plans, or to make an exaggerated opinion.
  • While less common, “Abs” sometimes stands for abdominal muscles, anti-lock braking system, and absolute value.
Section 1 of 4:

Abs Meaning

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    When someone messages you "abs," they’re likely telling you "Yes" or agreeing with whatever you said. You may see "Abs" used interchangeably with expressions like "completely," "totally," or "100%," whether someone is confirming that they can hang out with you or reassuring you that your outfit looks amazing. [1]
    • “Abs I’ll be there! I wouldn’t miss your party for the world! 🥳”
    • “abs you look fab! all eyes are going to be on you tonight 🔥​​”
    • “Ugh abs you’re not wrong. I can’t believe he would say that…😒”
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Use Abs

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    If someone texts you to ask your opinion, send back an “abs” to give your seal of approval. They might want to know what you think of their new date, if you’re just as frustrated about that stack of math homework you got assigned, or whether ice cream is better than frozen yogurt.
    • Your friend : “Isn’t Damien great?? I could see us going somewhere. ❤️”
      You : “Abs, he seems perfect for you! 😍”
    • Your classmate : “There’s no way I’m finishing all the problems Ms. Smith gave us for homework.”
      You : “abs how are we supposed to do them all in 1 night? 😣”
    • Your friend : “Okay, I don’t understand all the fuss about frozen yogurt. Ice cream all the way!! 🍦”
      You : “No abs, there’s nothing better than some rocky road 😋”
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    A quick “abs” is an enthusiastic confirmation or affirmation to something another person asked you. You might send it when a friend asks you if you had fun at their party, or when a coworker asks if you’re still able to cover their shift.
    • Your friend : “Hey, did you have fun last night?”
      You : “Abs! That was the best party I’ve ever been to! 🕺🪩”
    • Your coworker : “Can you still cover my shift tomorrow?”
      You : “Abs. 8:00 am, right?”
    • Your friend : “Are you going to Simone’s show on Friday?”
      You : “abs I’m so excited! 😄”
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    If you’ve got a strong opinion, show it off with these 3 little letters. This is a great way to exaggerate your texts or online messages, leaving no doubt about how you feel to whoever you’re texting.
    • “The new Avatar movie is abs stunning, I can’t believe it. 🤩”
    • “I love hanging out with Luis, he’s the abs best. 🥰”
    • “Don’t go to that new restaurant, I had the abs worst meal ever. 🤢”
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Section 3 of 4:

Other Definitions of Abs

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    If you’re chatting with someone about fitness, “abs” might be short for your abdominal muscles. These are the muscles around your stomach that help strengthen your core. [2] Your friend might ask you how your abs are feeling after an intense workout, or you might share your 6-pack progress on Instagram.
    • “That workout was super intense, my abs are still sore today! 😮‍💨”
    • “Here’s my 6-month fitness update. Check out that definition on my abs! 😏”
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    When ABS is used as an acronym, it usually stands for a vehicle’s anti-lock braking system. This is a safety feature that prevents your wheels from locking up when you have to brake suddenly and hard. If you see the ABS light on your dashboard, that usually means the system is deactivated due to a malfunction. Take your car to a mechanic to get your ABS checked out. [3]
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    In mathematics circles, “abs” is short for the absolute value of a number. The absolute value is how far a given number is from 0, which is always a positive value. [4] Abs is often used as a code in statistics software that returns the absolute value of some number. [5]
    • While coding, you might type “Abs(-12)” and get 12 as your answer.
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    While “abs” usually stands for “absolutely” in texts and online, almost any word that starts with “Abs” can be shortened this way. Just pay attention to the context of your conversation to figure out what “abs” means, or directly ask for clarification if you’re unsure!
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Section 4 of 4:

More Slang Acronyms to Know

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  1. Stay on top of new texting slang with these common acronyms. Learn these popular slang terms to stay in the know and keep your texts looking like English instead of gibberish:
    • ISK : A typo for IDK (“I don’t know”) or “I should know”
    • IDM : “I don’t mind”
    • MCM : “Man crush Monday”
    • WCW : “Woman crush Wednesday”
    • MBN : “Must be nice”
    • FFF : “Follow for follow”
    • PMO : “Put me on” (introduce to someone or something)
    • OOMF : “One of my followers” or “one of my friends”
    • OMW ’’: “On my way”

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      • There are lots of acronyms for ABS, like American Broadcasting System, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and American Bible Society. These are less common, so you’re unlikely to see these definitions in texts or on social media.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.slang.org/abs-meaning-definition/
      2. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/core-exercises/art-20044751
      3. ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a461/how-to-fix-anti-lock-brakes/
      4. ↑ ​​ https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/absolute-value.html
      5. ↑ https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/2.3.0?topic=functions-abs-absolute-value

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