What does IMHO mean?
A shorthand for marking a statement as your personal opinion.
Also written: imho · in my humble opinion · in my honest opinion
The meaning
IMHO usually means “in my humble opinion.” Some speakers understand the H as “honest,” but in either case it signals that the statement is the writer’s own view rather than an established fact.
What’s the tone?
Casual and opinion-marking; often friendly or self-effacing, sometimes dry or pointed depending on context.
When and how to use it
Use it before, inside or after an opinion in texts, forums, email and comment threads. It can soften a suggestion or disagreement, but the claimed humility may sound ironic or passive-aggressive if the sentence is blunt.
In a conversation
Original examples to illustrate the expression.
Should we move the meeting to Friday?
IMHO, Thursday is better because the whole team is already free.
That ending felt rushed, imho, but the acting was great.
Easy to misread
IMHO is close to IMO (“in my opinion”), but the H adds a humble—or, for some users, honest—shade. It does not prove that the opinion is modest, truthful or correct.
A little context
IMHO has long been part of online shorthand. The Atlantic cites a 1986 PC Magazine glossary that expanded it as “in my humble opinion,” while later guides also recorded “honest” as a secondary reading. This documents established use without claiming a definitive first occurrence.
Sources & further reading
These sources support the explanation. The dialogue above is original.
- IMHO Definition & MeaningDictionary.com · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Defines IMHO primarily as “in my humble opinion,” notes the “honest” variant in British usage, and provides published examples placing the abbreviation around personal judgments.
- There Is Only One Thing IMHO Can MeanThe Atlantic · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Explains IMHO as long-standing online shorthand for “in my humble opinion,” while documenting that later internet guides also recorded “honest” as a secondary interpretation.
- 27 Texting Abbreviations: What They Are, Why They Exist, and How to Use ThemGrammarly · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Lists IMHO as the common “in my humble opinion” variation of IMO in a guide to established texting and internet abbreviations.
Prepared with AI assistance and automated quality checks. Meanings can vary by context. Read our editorial policy.