TL DR Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How To Use It

Our world is full of acronyms these days. Because acronyms are typically just the first letter of the words they represent, it’s easy for things to repeat, and it can also be difficult to keep up with what everything means.

IDK. WYD? BRB. OMW. IYKYK. OOTD. TL;DR. LOL. Seriously, what does it all mean? You may not be speaking in full acronyms or abbreviations, but you can glean some knowledge of what it means when you see tl;dr in a social media post, news article, or an email at work. 

What Is the Meaning of TL DR?

According to the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, TL;DR or TL DR is an abbreviation that stands for “too long; didn’t read.” The abbreviation is traditionally used to comment on something someone has written. Like all internet slang, though, it’s always a good idea to check the urban dictionary as well, and on this word, the dictionaries agree.

Example:

• I couldn’t get to all the comments on this post. (TLDR)
• This had the potential to be a funny story. (TLDR)

Additionally, TLDR has grown to be a noun and not just an abbreviation. In this context, tldr is defined as a short summary. When someone doesn’t want to or can’t take the time to read a post, an article, a book, or something else, they might ask someone else for a TLDR. An example of a TLDR would be to create a summary of a lengthy post. 

Example:

• I didn’t have time to read the project brief. Can you send me a TLDR?
• You know I don’t have the attention span for that post. Send me a TLDR.

TLDR is meant to express that any text in digital format (email, post, article, etc.) is too long and therefore not worth reading. Sometimes it is meant to be rude, but more often, it’s just a funny way of saying our brains process short bursts of text instead of lengthy chunks.

In a world that limits your posts to 130 characters, we’ve grown more accustomed to taking in a lot of information in bite-sized pieces. When we are confronted with a large amount of text, it’s easy to decide that it’s too long to read in comparison. In the spirit of brevity, we simply type TLDR.

The word is pronounced tee el dee ar. It sounds like the letters of its acronym.

What Is the Origin of TL DR?

Maybe we just don’t have the capacity for large sums of text in digital formats. Maybe that’s why the origin of TLDR dates back to the early 2000s. After the rise of instant messenger services like American Online, social media bloomed with the arrival of platforms like:

• MySpace (2003)
• Facebook (2004)
• Twitter (2006)

In 2005, after Facebook became popular, social media use among US adults was just 5%, but by 2019, according to the Pew Research Center, social media usage had grown to 72%.

When the Merriam-Webster dictionary added TL;DR as a word in 2018, the claim was made, but not proven, that TL;DR was first used in 2002. Perhaps evidence for their claim was left out to avoid any TL;DR comments. However, it first appeared in the urban dictionary in January 2003, so it sounds plausible that the word originated before that time.

Since it was first used, TL;DR has grown in meaning and usage. Over time, just as the abbreviation grew into its own word, it outgrew its semicolon. More often than not, these days, TL;DR is used as TLDR instead.

TL;DR, if you had to trace its roots, probably goes back to shorthand notation like that of a stenographer.

When Should You Use TL;DR?

TL;DR isn’t appropriate in professional settings. TL;DR should be treated similarly to emoticons, emojis, and other text acronyms, and they shouldn’t be part of your professional communications.

It is okay to use TL;DR in the comments of discussion forums when the original poster gave the entire detail of a simple story. 

If you see a truly lengthy online post, you may feel compelled to leave a TLDR comment. However, indiscriminate usage can be seen as dismissive, particularly within serious discussions. 

Spotting TL;DR in the comments of a post or article you’ve worked on can be upsetting. To avoid your own TLDR situation, remember to keep your posts the size of a brief summary. Keep in mind that the eye will skim over large walls of text. Provide plenty of eye breaks when you have to be lengthy.

TL;DR can be written with or without its semicolon. TLDR can be written in uppercase or lowercase. Both uppercase and lowercase are acceptable and readable. TLDR or tldr mean the same thing.

What Are Synonyms for TL DR?

TLDR is an abbreviation, but you can still find a synonym to capture its intended message. Here are a few synonyms for TLDR.

• Extended
• Extensive
• Lengthy
• Stretched
• Dragging
• Interminable
• Long-drawn-out
• Prolonged
• Slow
• Expanded

Of course, finding new ways to say TLDR may encourage others to post their own TLDR back. However, it’s always nice to find cases of more courteous exchanges in the place of tl;dr.

What Are Antonyms for TL DR?

An antonym is used to convey the opposite of the original word. What words could say the opposite of “too long; didn’t read”? Here are some antonyms for TLDR.

• Abbreviated
• Brief
• Succinct
• Compressed
• Short
• Abridged
• Momentary
• Quick
• Readable
• Small
• Little
• Short-lived

What Are Some Examples of Using TL DR?

Here are some examples of tl dr:

• I heard that it was good, but I couldn’t finish it. TL;DR
• I don’t know what this post was about. TL;DR  But, I can tell you’re upset. *hugs*
• I created a TLDR for the book we were supposed to read for class.
• This thread has gotten out of control. TL;DR
• I love tl;dr movies.

Get out there and use TL DR IRL today!

Sources:

1. abbreviation | Definition & History | Britannica 
2. TL;DR Definition & Meaning | Merriam-Webster 
3. Demographics of Social Media Users and Adoption in the United States | Pew Research Center