What does BRB mean?
BRB means “be right back,” a quick message telling someone that you are briefly stepping away from a conversation and expect to return soon.
Also written: brb · be right back
The meaning
BRB announces a temporary pause rather than ending an exchange. A person might send it before answering the door, getting water, or leaving a chat for a short errand. It tells the other person why an immediate reply may stop, while suggesting that the conversation can continue afterward. It does not specify an exact return time. Both BRB and brb work as the same shorthand in casual messages.
What’s the tone?
Usually practical and friendly, BRB is a brief courtesy rather than an expression of annoyance. By itself it offers little explanation, so a short reason or time estimate can help when someone is waiting for you.
When and how to use it
Send BRB before stepping away from a live chat or an active text exchange. If other people are waiting to start a game or make a decision, say roughly how long you will be gone. For a longer or uncertain absence, describe your availability directly. In formal correspondence, write a full sentence about when you can respond instead of assuming the reader knows the abbreviation.
In a conversation
Original examples to illustrate the expression.
BRB, the delivery driver is at the door. Give me two minutes before we start.
Sure, I'll wait in the lobby.
brb, grabbing my charger before the battery dies.
No rush. I'll send the photos while you're gone.
Easy to misread
BRB emphasizes an expected quick return. AFK means “away from keyboard” and does not itself promise a short absence. Slang.net also records the less common expansion “bathroom break,” but an ordinary standalone BRB is best read as “be right back” unless the sentence indicates otherwise.
A little context
BRB is part of established online messaging shorthand, documented by Collins for messaging and social media and by BleepingComputer for message boards and instant messages. Its usefulness comes from signaling a pause in a conversation where the other person cannot see you leave. The sources checked do not establish a single inventor or verified first-use date.
Sources & further reading
These sources support the explanation. The dialogue above is original.
- BRB definition and meaning | Collins English DictionaryCollins English Dictionary · Checked Oct 31, 2026
Defines BRB as be right back in messaging and social media.
- BRB - DefinitionBleepingComputer · Checked Oct 31, 2026
Records be right back as computer slang used on message boards and in instant messages.
- BRB - What does BRB stand for?Slang.net · Checked Oct 31, 2026
Explains a temporary departure with an expected return and distinguishes the less common bathroom-break expansion.
Prepared with AI assistance and automated quality checks. Meanings can vary by context. Read our editorial policy.