The digital age is full of acronyms and abbreviations, especially among the online gaming community.
One of the old-school internet acronyms you might have seen online is AFK. So, what exactly does the abbreviation AFK mean?
The short answer is that AFK is an abbreviation for away from keyboard or away from keys.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the ways people use AFK in conversations.
What Does AFK Stand For?
AFK is a contraction for the phrases away from keyboard or away from keys.
This contraction is commonly used by people who play massively multiplayer online games (MMOs). Even if you’re not a gamer, though, you might still find this contraction useful when you’re texting friends and family.
You can use AFK in a full sentence, such as “I’m going to be AFK for a few hours,” or you can simply write “AFK” without further context.
What Does AFK Mean in Gaming?
Online gamers use many acronyms and initialisms in chat rooms to quickly communicate with fellow players. If you’re playing an online game, you might see AFK used to indicate that someone is going to be away from the game for a while.
The acronym is so commonly used in online gaming that it’s even developed a second meaning among gamers. You can use AFK as a noun to describe someone who’s often away from their keyboard, such as, “She’s such an AFK.”
Be confident about grammar
Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.
Examples of AFK in Gaming
Let’s take a look at some examples of how AFK might be used in online gaming.
Gamer 1: Are you down to play tomorrow?
Gamer 2: I’m going on vacation with the fam. I’ll be AFK until next week.
Here’s another example:
Gamer 1: Maria, did you get the sword?
Gamer 2: I think she's AFK.
What Does AFK Mean in Text?
In text conversations, people usually use AFK to indicate that they’re not going to reply for a while.
When you’re texting someone, you might have to suddenly leave the conversation to do something else. It can be rude to disappear while they’re still waiting for you to answer, so it makes sense to let them know you’ll be away or unavailable for a while.
Examples of AFK in Text
Here are some examples of how people might use AFK in text.
Friend 1: Did you read that book I gave you?
Friend 2: I’m in the middle of it now! I like the characters, but the plot doesn’t make any sense.
Friend 1: LOL, I kind of feel that way too. We should talk about it!
Friend 2: Sure! My lunch break is over though. I have to get back to work. I’ll be AFK until 5 p.m.
Here’s another example:
Sibling 1: Are you coming to the dinner party tomorrow?
Sibling 2: Yeah.
Sibling 1: Do you need me to give you a ride?
Sibling 2: Maybe. I’ll ask Abby first if she can take me home.
Sibling 1: Okay, just keep me posted. I’m gonna be AFK for a while because my phone battery is at 5%.
Remember that AFK might be acceptable in conversations between friends, but it should only be used in a less formal atmosphere. You can use ProWritingAid’s Paraphrase Report to help reword your writing for formal situations.
Be confident about grammar
Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.
