"Away From Keyboard." Used to announce you're stepping away.
If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/AFK&namespace=0) incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
The game was followed by a sequel, _[AFK Journey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFK_Journey "AFK Journey")_, in March 2024. ## Plot \[ [edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AFK_Arena&action=edit§ion=1…
"Away From Keyboard." Used to announce you're stepping away. A "leaver" who goes AFK mid-match is a different, more hated species. AFK during a ranked game = report. AFK during a casual = fine. Universal across every multiplayer game from EverQuest onward.
AFK means "Away From Keyboard." Used to announce you're stepping away. It's mostly used in gaming and streaming culture. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Add your own interpretation of "AFK".
Gaming slang across genres — from OP, nerf, and buff to carry, clutch, jungle, and wombo combo. The lingo of esports, streamers, and ranked lobbies everywhere.
See all Gaming slang on Slangora.
Browse all slang words starting with A.
An afker is someone who habitually goes away from keyboard at the worst possible moments — vanishing mid-game, dropping off a call without warning, or leaving a group project chat on read for hours. In competitive gaming it's a serious insult, because an afker essentially sabotages their own team through absence. Casually, it describes the friend who's technically always in the group chat but never actually responds to anything. Chronic afkers are low-key unreliable and everyone knows it.
AFK mode is the state of being mentally or physically checked out — not just away from a screen, but fully off the grid by choice. Entering AFK mode means you're done with obligations, notifications, and social expectations for a set period. People announce AFK mode before a long nap, a no-phone weekend, a focus sprint, or a much-needed break from drama. It's the polite (and kind of funny) way to say you're deliberately going unreachable, and anyone who interrupts AFK mode better have a good reason.
An AFK check is a quick callout — in games, group chats, or Discord servers — used to verify whether someone is actually present or has quietly ghosted the room. One player pings the team, types their name, or calls out in voice chat to see if anyone responds. If the suspected AFK doesn't reply within a few seconds, they're confirmed absent and may face consequences like being kicked, benched, or mercilessly roasted. Outside of gaming, friends use it as a casual poke to confirm the group chat is still alive.
If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/AFK&namespace=0) incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
"AFK for 5 — parents calling."
AFK means "Away From Keyboard." Used to announce you're stepping away. It's mostly used in gaming and streaming culture. It's casual and generally safe with friends and online. It's standard online vocabulary; nothing inherently concerning about hearing it.
"AFK" is slang. It means: "Away From Keyboard." Used to announce you're stepping away. Register: casual. Use it in: casual conversation and online posts. Avoid in: formal writing and professional emails.
“If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/AFK&namespace=0) incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.”
“The game was followed by a sequel, _[AFK Journey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFK_Journey "AFK Journey")_, in March 2024. ## Plot \[ [edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AFK_Arena&action=edit§ion=1 "Edit section: Plot")\] Esperia consists of 49 regions.”
“If an [internal link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/AFK&namespace=0) incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.”
“The game was followed by a sequel, _[AFK Journey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFK_Journey "AFK Journey")_, in March 2024. ## Plot \[ [edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AFK_Arena&action=edit§ion=1 "Edit section: Plot")\] Esperia consists of 49 regions.”
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Nebraska City Municipal Airport, United States (FAA code: AFK)
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"AFK", a song on the 2004 album Summer in Abaddon by Pinback
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Kondavattavan Tank Waterdrome, Sri Lanka (IATA code: AFK)
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"AFK", a song on the 2015 album Glyptothek by Momus
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Ashford International railway station, England (National Rail code: AFK)
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