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

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

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What does the abbreviation WTB stand for?

According to Cyber Definitions and Urban Dictionary, the abbreviation WTB can either stand for with the boys or want to buy. Want to buy is often used on online marketplace sites like eBay and Craigslist in which people can post items that they are looking for. This can be used in conjunction with the below acronyms:

  • LTB (Looking to Buy)
  • WTS (Want to Sell)
  • WTT (Want to Trade)

Additionally, WTB is used to mean want to buy within the world of online gaming, particularly in MMORPG games, or Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games. In this context, WTB signals to other video game players that one of the people wishes to purchase an item. This internet slang abbreviation is often used in SMS text messaging as well as on social media. Slang terms and initialisms like this are only appropriate to use in casual settings, so reserve these for informal texts or MMORPGs!

According to The Free Dictionary, the abbreviation WTB can stand for much more than just “want to buy.” This abbreviation has numerous other possible definitions, however these are less common and should therefore be used sparingly. If you do decide to use one of these alternate definitions, make sure that you provide the reader with proper context so that they can decipher or infer the correct meaning that you intend. This should be standard practice when using any acronym that has more than one definition. 

  • Wire Train Bus (rail transportation)
  • Wouldn’t That Be (Internet chat)
  • With the Boys
  • What’s the best
  • Wavelength-To-Band
  • West Town Bikes (Chicago, IL)
  • Werktuigbouwkunde (Dutch)
  • Who’s the Boss? (TV show)
  • Wilderness Trail Bikes, Inc.
  • Wales Tourist Board (UK)
  • What the Butt?
  • With the Beatles (Beatles album)
  • What the Buck
  • Worldwide Technology Business (Booz Allen Hamilton)
  • Warrior Transition Battalion (US Army)
  • Working Trial Balance
  • FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
  • Willing to Buy
  • Way to Be
  • Wife to Be
  • Wing Tip Brake (aircraft actuation systems)
  • Where’s the Beef?
  • War Trade Board (USA)
  • Window to Bitmap

How can the abbreviation WTB be used in a sentence?

The abbreviation WTB can be used in many different contexts. It can be used on an online marketplace site like eBay or Craigslist to indicate that you are looking to purchase a certain item, as well as on MMORPG games to indicate to other players that you are looking to purchase a certain in-game item. Finally, the term WTB can also be used as simply slang for the term want to buy. In this example, Danny is texting his mom about a purchase he would like to make. 

Danny: Mom! I really WTB this video game that just came out. All my friends have it and I really really wanna play it with them. Can I please get it?

Mom: How much is it?

Danny: $75.

Mom: Are you kidding me?!

Danny: Plus a ten dollar a month subscription.

Mom: No way Jose!

In this example, Danny uses the term WTB to tell his mom that he would like to purchase a certain video game that all of his friends have. In this next example, Danny’s dad texts Danny’s mom about a purchase he is thinking of making.

Dad: I think I WTB a new truck.

Mom: What is wrong with the truck you already have?

Dad: It’s not a truck, per se. I think we should get a real truck for towing stuff to the lake.

Mom: We haven’t been to the lake in a year!

Dad: Maybe we would go more often if we had a truck to tow things with!

Mom: Why is everyone trying to empty my pockets?

Here, Danny’s dad uses the abbreviation WTB to tell his mom that he wants to buy a new truck.

Is the abbreviation WTB casual or formal?

The abbreviation WTB is very casual and should only be used in informal contexts. It is not appropriate to use slang terms like WTB in a formal or professional setting such as a business email, formal letter, or other polite scenario. If you are trying to convey the same meaning as WTB, opt for using the full form of the phrase. Rather than using WTB, simply use “want to buy” or something similar like “looking to purchase.” This will still present you with an air of professionalism. Save the slang for Snapchat!

What are MMORPGs?

According to Plarium and Webopedia, an MMORPG is a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. These games all share many common features. One common feature is character growth, in which a character’s skill or level increases as the game progresses. Second, many MMORPGs have level progression, in which the challenges get progressively harder. There is also a social element to many of these games in which players have to interact with others in order to complete certain quests. Sometimes, people even create guilds or clans that work together to share resources. Additionally, many MMORPG games operate on a client-server architecture as well as a monthly payment structure.

Overall, the trending abbreviation WTB most often stands for want to buy. This slang term is used in both online marketplace sites like eBay and Craigslist, as well as MMORPG games like World of Warcraft or others. This term is used to signal to others that you are looking to purchase a specific item. Then, you will wait for a seller to contact you about said item.

Sources:

  1. https://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/WTB#:~:text=Slang%20%2F%20Jargon%20(12),Want%20To%20Buy
  2. https://www.cyberdefinitions.com/definitions/WTB.html
  3. https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=WTB
  4. https://plarium.com/en/blog/difference-between-mmo-and-mmorpgs/
  5. https://www.webopedia.com/definitions/mmorpg/