TMW

Texting & Internet Slang abbreviation · Social Media

TMW
Stands forThat moment when
CategoriesTexting & Internet Slang

TMW stands for That moment when, a social media abbreviation.

Caption opener describing a relatable or awkward moment, similar to TFW. Common in tweets, Instagram captions and meme pages, where it sets up a shared embarrassment the reader is meant to recognize.

Example: Tmw you wave back at someone who was waving at the person behind you.

Usage notes

Slightly older and more straightforward than TFW; "that awkward moment when" was a hugely popular Twitter and Facebook format around 2010 to 2012. Mostly used by millennials. Harmless and informal.

More social media abbreviations

  • TIFU – Today I f***ed up
  • TIHI – Thanks, I hate it
  • TIL – Today I learned
  • TL – Timeline
  • TL;DR – Too long; didn't read
  • TL;DW – Too long; didn't watch
  • TT – TikTok
  • TW – Trigger warning
  • WAGMI – We're all gonna make it
  • WCW – Woman Crush Wednesday
  • WIBTA – Would I be the a**hole?
  • WIWT – What I wore today

See all 106 social media abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.