"brb" means be right back. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
brb
Be Right Back.
ˌbiː.ɑːrˈbiːDocumented since 1990s1990sMillennialhistorical304 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026＋ Add a definition
Etymology timeline
Born ~1990 · no dated citations yetMillennial / early-internet eraSee decade cohort →
Definitions
Global
#1·Apr 26, 2026Global
Be Right Back. Used to step away from a chat briefly.
"brb getting coffee"
Origin: Internet chat from the early 1990s.
For parents
"brb" means be right back. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.
For ESL learners
"brb" is informal English meaning be right back. It is used widely across English varieties. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "be right back" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "brb" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
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.
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Other words near "brb" (B)
BraylenBraylonBrazierBrazilian bootyBrazilian buttbrazillionbrb arcbrb codedbrb energybrb failbrb maxxingbrb mode
Browse all slang words starting with B.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- BRT77%
Be right there. Used in voice chat and game lobbies to signal a quick, deliberate absence — answering the door, grabbing a drink — with the promise of imminent return. Functions as the active sibling of AFK ("away from keyboard").
- brb mode74%
BRB mode is what you're in when you've mentally or physically checked out of a conversation, situation, or social obligation — but you haven't fully ghosted yet. You're present enough to technically still be there, but your attention, effort, or availability has gone walkabout. Someone in brb mode replies hours late, gives one-word answers, or sets their status to away and stays there. It's less aggressive than ghosting and more honest than pretending to engage — the digital equivalent of leaving the room without a hard exit.
- bbiab72%
(Internet slang) Be back in a bit.
- brb fail70%
A brb fail is what happens when you say you'll 'be right back' and then either take an absurdly long time to return or get pulled into something that makes the original conversation irrelevant. Classic brb fail moves include: disappearing for three hours after saying brb five minutes, coming back when the conversation has fully moved on, or returning to a situation that has entirely resolved itself without you. It's a well-worn internet experience — harmless and extremely relatable, typically met with jokes rather than genuine frustration.
- sus brb70%
When someone drops a 'brb' and the timing is just a little too convenient — right after a spicy accusation, during a heated argument, or the moment things get awkward. Sus brb signals that the person stepping away is probably avoiding accountability rather than actually needing a minute. The group chat smells it. Everyone knows this is a tactical retreat, not a bathroom break. It turns the innocent 'be right back' into a red flag that the chat will absolutely roast you for when you return.