initialism🔤 abbreviation
DM
direct message
What it means
DM stands for 'direct message' — a private message sent through a social platform rather than posted publicly. It's used as both a noun and a verb: send a DM, or DM someone. 'Slide into the DMs' means messaging someone privately, often to flirt.
Words like “DM” are exactly the kind of vocabulary our English vocabulary size test measures — find out how many English words you know.
Examples
- DM me your address and I'll post it.
- I got a weird DM from a stranger.
- She slid into his DMs after the show.
- For questions, DM us on Instagram.
Where it comes from
An initialism that grew with Twitter and Instagram, where 'direct messages' are the private channel alongside public posts.
Related abbreviations
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