Kevin
April 17, 2021
Common Questions
Have you ever wondered what the acronym WYD stands for? This article will provide you with all of the knowledge you need on the abbreviation WYD, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
According to Phoenix New Times, Dictionary, and other dictionary apps like Urban Dictionary, the abbreviation WYD stands for “what are you doing,” “what’re you doing,” or colloquially, “what you doin’.” This phrase is used as a quick and easy way to ask if someone is free, or what it is they are actively doing at a given moment. This is usually used to suss out if someone is available to go do some activity or errand with the person who is asking. This casual internet slang term is very popular on social media sites like Twitter and TikTok, as well as in SMS text messages.
On dating sites like Tinder and Hinge, this phrase is sometimes used similarly to the phrase “you up?” or “u up?” to ask someone if they are awake for a booty call. Usually men on dating apps will make use of WYD via the instant messaging feature on the app to ask women the hypothetical question if they are busy. From there, they will decide if they want to hook up or not.
According to The Free Dictionary, the abbreviation WYD can also have many other meanings other than “what you doin’” or “what are you doing.” While these other definitions are accurate, they are far less common, and one will often assume the person using WYD means “what’re you doing?” If you intend to use WYD to mean one of these other definitions, ensure that you provide the recipient with the proper context so that they can infer the correct meaning.
There are many other ways that one can ask someone what they are currently doing. Some of these are also casual internet slang acronyms that are common in instant messaging or texting, but some are a bit more formal or polite and better to use in less casual company. Some of these synonyms – which are words and phrases that mean the same thing as another word or phrase – are provided by Thesaurus.
The acronym WYD can be used in numerous different casual circumstances to ask someone what they are doing. This can either be used between friends to ask the other person if they would like to hang out or do an activity, or it can be used between two people on a dating app or dating site in roder to ask the other person if they would like to hook up. In this first example, the abbreviation WYD will be used between two friends, Jenner and Jon.
Jenner: Hey dude, WYD tonight?
Jon: IDK man, I’m drowning in homework. I should have never taken AP US History.
Jenner: Ugh, that sucks.
Jon: Why, WBU?
Jenner: I got two tickets to the concert at the stadium downtown and I wanted to see if you wanted to go. My sister was supposed to go but she got grounded and my mom doesn;’t want to waste her money.
Jon: Oh whoa! Screw history! I’m in!
Jenner: Sweet! Pick you up in an hour!
Jon: TYSM dude!
Here, Jenner uses the acronym WYD to ask Jon if he has any plans that night so that he can invite him to the concert. In this next example, the phrase will be sued between two people on an online dating app. Ken and Ceara have been talking for a while and have been on one date. Ken messages Ceara in the app.
Ken: Hey WYD?
Ceara: LOL, don’t tell me, you want to hook up tonight.
Ken: What? I didn’t say that!
Ceara: Every single time a man on a dating app asks “WYD” – especially after 10PM – it means they want to hook up.
Ken: … Okay, you’re not wrong.
Ceara: LMAO, I’m with my sister. Take me on a real date and then we can talk about a hookup. Goodnight!
Ken: LOL, at least you’re honest. Have a good night!
Here, Ken uses the term WYD to ask Ceara what she is doing because he wants to see if she is free to hook up.
The abbreviation WYd is extremely casual and should only be used in informal contexts like text messaging, instant messaging, and on social media. Casual initialisms like WYD should never be used in formal or professional contexts. It is not proper etiquette to use abbreviations like WYD in business emails, negotiations, letters, or other polite settings.
Overall, the abbreviation WYD most often stands for “what you doing” or “what are you doing.” This phrase is commonly used in text messaging and on social media to ask another person what they are up to and if they are free to hang out or to do some activity. This lingo is also sometimes used on dating sites and dating apps in order for one person to ask another person for what is colloquially known as a “booty call.”
