The Meaning of DTR: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of DTR? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation DTR, including its definition, usage, examples, and more!

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What does the abbreviation DTR stand for?

According to Cyber Definitions, the acronym DTR stands for define the relationship. A DTR talk is done between two people who are dating to formally define their relationship as partners, boyfriend and girlfriend, et cetera. This talk normally is had a few weeks or months into a relationship – you wouldn’t have the DTR talk on a first date with a Tinder match, and if they try that, it’s a red flag. This mutual understanding of a romantic relationship is used by those who want a serious boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner, and not someone who is just here for casual dating. The DTR talk answers relationship questions and makes the relationship exclusive. This internet slang is often used in chat and social media. This slang term overall refers to an honest conversation about what type of relationship the parties are looking for, from a committed relationship to situationships. Boundaries are set during the DTR conversation and there is no uncertainty, only a willingness from both parties.

According to The Free Dictionary, the acronym DTR can stand for much more than define the relationship. This acronym has other potential definitions, but these are less commonly used. If you do decide to use one of these alternate meanings, make sure that you provide the person you are talking to with the proper context and information so that they are not confused. Acronyms can be very confusing if you do not know what they stand for, or if they have a number of potential meanings. When in doubt, opt for using the full form of an acronym or jargon like this so that someone knows what you are talking about. Reminder: using shorthand can lead to misunderstanding of a given topic.

  •  Duty to Report
  •  Defense Terrestrial Reactor
  •  Differential Thermal Relief (valves; various companies)
  •  Down to Ride
  •  Digital Trunked Radio
  •  Double Treble Crochet Hook
  •  Detinus Republic (Beyond the Stellar Empire game)
  •  Dynamic Track Re-Routing
  •  Dynamic Text Replacement
  •  Detailed Transaction Report
  •  Denver Trail Runners
  •  Data Trending Recorder
  •  Drive Thru Records (record label)
  •  Dark Torreador Red (Mercury Marauder paint color)
  •  Department Technology Representative
  •  Designated Technical Representative
  •  Demonstration Test Round
  •  Draft Technical Report
  •  Data Transfer Rate
  •  Defense Transportation Regulation (US DoD 4500.9-R)
  •  Dulles Toll Road (Virginia)
  •  Destroy the Ring
  •  Discrepancy Tracking Report
  •  Division Transfer
  •  Detail Transaction Report
  •  Developmental Test Round
  •  Dental Treatment Room
  •  Desktop Replacement (laptop computer)
  •  Dietetic Technician, Registered
  •  Digital Technology Report
  •  Down the Road
  •  Design Time Repository
  •  Dave the Resurrector
  •  Daily Transaction Register
  •  Duct Tape Repairmen (band)
  •  Discuss The Relationship
  •  Duramax Tokai Rubber Tennessee Inc. (automotive parts maker)
  •  Data Terminal Ready
  •  Direct Tax Referencer (India)
  •  Desarrollo Territorial Rural
  •  Discrete Track Recording
  •  Diesel Truck Resource
  •  Dance Therapist Registered
  •  Disc and Tape Record
  •  Digital TV Recorder
  •  Data Transmission
  •  Digital Tape Recorder
  •  Dynamic Trunk Reservation
  •  DNA Transfer and Replication (biology)
  •  Discover the Ride (electric motorcycles show)
  •  Determine the Relationship
  •  Down to Rage (Internet slang)
  •  Dedicated Token Ring (software)
  •  Discipline That Restores
  •  Department of Transport and the Regions (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK)
  •  Down the Rail
  •  Disclosure and Transparency Rules (various locations)
  •  Daily Time Record
  •  Docker Trusted Registry (computer storage)
  •  Dundee Tunnel Research
  •  Diversified Target Return (fund)
  •  Deep Tendon Reflex
  •  Developmental Test Report
  •  Dynamic Transaction Routing
  •  Dingerdis Technische Realisatie
  •  Davis Tube Recovery
  •  Double Treble (crochet stitch; aka Double Triple)
  •  Days to Remember (band)
  •  Desktop Repeater (rubber band gun)
  •  Diurnal Temperature Range
  •  Ditch The Raft (blog)
  •  Dance Therapy Registered
  •  Double Taxation Relief (UK)
  •  Department of Tourism and Recreation (UK)
  •  Double Tree Ranch (Texas)
  •  Detroit Techno Records (music label)
  •  Development Technical Review (Petro Energy E&P Co., Ltd.)
  •  Defence Training Review (UK)
  •  Design & Technical Resources Limited (Malta)
  •  Defence Training Rationalisation (UK)
  •  Data Transfer Receptacle(s)
  •  Digital Terrestrial Radio
  •  Daily Task Report
  •  Dominion Television Rentals (New Zealand)
  •  Delay, Throughput, Reliability (bits)
  •  Death to the Regime (band)
  •  Direct to Retail (licensing)
  •  Dirt Track Racing
  •  Downtown Radio
  •  Desktop Replacements
  •  Dedicated Token Ring
  •  Dead to Rights (game)
  •  Derived Test Requirement

What are other acronyms a person might see on an online dating site or dating app?

There are numerous different words and phrases that a person might see abbreviated on an online dating app. People will often use these in order to save time when chatting with others or if there is a word count or character count limit on the app itself where one might write a bio or an about me section. These can be useful to know to understand exactly what a person is looking for and if you might be a match. It can be difficult to decipher these at first, but with this list from Your Life Choices, you will be able to use them in no time!

  •  F – Female
  •  HNG – Horny net geek
  •  TV – Transvestite
  •  MtF – Male-to-female transgendered
  •  SD – Social drinker
  •  W – Widowed or white
  •  M – Male
  •  STR – Straight
  •  GSOH – Good sense of humor
  •  Bi – Bisexual
  •  FtM – Female-to-male transgendered
  •  LS – Legally separated or light smoker
  •  MBC – Married black couple
  •  LD – Light drinker
  •  DTF – Down to ‘frolic’ (you know what we really mean)
  •  BBW – Big beautiful woman
  •  MSM – Man seeking men
  •  F2F – Face to face
  •  SBiF – Single bisexual female
  •  GWM –  Gay white male
  •  MM – Marriage-minded
  •  WAA – Will answer all
  •  LDR – Long distance relationship
  •  SWF – Single white female
  •  MSW – Man seeking women
  •  NK or N/K – No kids
  •  MBA – Married but available
  •  VBD – Very bad date
  •  ISO – In search of
  •  NSA – No strings attached
  •  MWC – Married white couple
  •  C – Christian
  •  SWM – Single white male
  •  FWB – Friends with benefits
  •  BDSM – Bondage/domination/sadism/masochism

Overall, DTR means define the relationship. The DTR convo is had to give feedback on the status of a relationship and determine if people wish to be exclusive. 

Sources:

  1. DTR – What does DTR stand for? The Free Dictionary 
  2. Internet dating: 35 weird dating acronyms decoded | Your Life Choices AU 
  3. DTR | What Does DTR Mean? | Cyber Definitions