WTM stands for 'what's the move?' It's a casual way of asking what the plan is, or what someone thinks you should do next. Dictionary.com says it's often used when people are spontaneously making plans and want to do something together, as in 'Just arrived in Chicago. Wtm?'
WTM is a planning question in three letters. It turns up on a Friday afternoon, after a shift ends or when a group chat goes quiet and somebody wants to get out of the house. Here's what it means, where it came from and the easiest ways to answer it.
WTM stands for what's the move
Dictionary.com defines wtm as an abbreviation that usually stands for 'what's the move?' It's used to ask about other people's plans or for advice on what someone should do. In plain English, it's the same as asking 'What are we doing?' or 'What's the plan?'
The word move is doing the heavy lifting. A move is the thing you're going to do next, like a move in a game. So 'the move' tonight might be a film, a party, a takeaway or nothing at all. Asking 'what's the move?' invites everyone to suggest one.
WTM examples from real chats
Dictionary.com collects several real posts that show how flexible the abbreviation can be. A few of them, lightly paraphrased:
- 'wtm today? any super bowl parties?' Someone fishing for an invitation.
- 'wtm for tonights gaming' A gamer asking which game the group is playing.
- 'Wtm this weekend' A simple weekend planning question.
- 'wtm? i just finished my 12hr shift... MY BED IS THE MOVE' Someone answering their own question.
- 'I be bored... but not posting wtm bored.' A joke about how bored you have to be before you ask.
That last one is my favourite because it shows the tone. WTM is a little bit of a social signal. Posting it publicly says you're free and open to offers.
Where WTM comes from
According to Dictionary.com, wtm has been used to mean 'what's the move?' since at least the early 2010s. Its earliest example is a post from June 2010 asking 'wtm for right now?' Even then, it was being used to ask what people were up to.
It belongs to the same family as other planning shorthand in texts, where the whole question shrinks down to its initials. You type it quickly, you send it to a few people at once, and you see who bites.
WTM in a text compared with a public post
The meaning doesn't change much between a private text and a social post, but the expectation does.
| Where it's sent | What the person usually wants |
|---|---|
| A one-to-one text | A direct plan with you, often right now |
| A group chat | Somebody to suggest an activity everyone can join |
| A public post or story | Any invitation going, from anyone who's around |
| A gaming chat | Which game or mode the group is playing |
| After arriving somewhere new | Recommendations for places to go |
If you get it in a one-to-one message, it often means the person wants to see you. If it's a public post, don't take it too personally if they go with somebody else's plan.
How to reply to WTM
There's no wrong answer, but these keep the conversation moving.
- Suggest something specific: 'Cinema at 8?'
- Throw it back: 'Idk, what are you feeling?'
- Say you're busy: 'Can't tonight, tomorrow?'
- Be honest about the sofa: 'Staying in, my bed is the move.'
- Ask a clarifying question: 'Wtm as in tonight or the weekend?'
If the reply you get back is just as short, it's worth knowing a few cousins. HRU checks how someone is, and WDYM asks what they mean when a reply is unclear.
Similar ways to ask what the plan is
- 'What's the plan?' The plain-English version that works with anyone.
- 'What are we doing?' Friendly and a little impatient.
- 'You free later?' A softer way to check before suggesting something.
- 'What's good?' Sometimes a greeting, sometimes a plan question.
- 'Where we at?' Very casual, often asking where a group is meeting.
Each of these has a slightly different feel, but WTM is the one that most clearly asks for a suggestion rather than a status update.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Why WTM caught on
Part of the appeal is that it's open-ended. 'Want to go to the cinema?' asks for a yes or no. 'WTM?' hands the decision to the group, which takes the pressure off whoever's asking. It's also quick to type on a phone and fits neatly into a story or a status update, where you want lots of people to see it at once.
If you're a parent who's spotted WTM on your teenager's phone, there's nothing hidden in it. It's a plans question. The thing to look at is the reply, because that's where the actual plan lives.
WTM on stories and social posts
On Snapchat, Instagram and similar apps, people sometimes post WTM as a story or a status rather than sending it to anyone in particular. It's a low-effort way of saying 'I'm free, invite me'. Friends reply privately with ideas, and the person picks the one they like. If you see a WTM story from someone you'd like to spend time with, a reply with a concrete idea and a time is the fastest way to turn it into a plan.
For another abbreviation you'll see in chats every day, see the meaning of DM on Instagram.
Is WTM OK to use with everyone?
It's informal, so keep it for friends, classmates and casual chats. Dictionary.com notes it's used informally online and in texting, especially on social media. With a manager or a client, I'd write the full question, or something like 'What's the plan for Thursday?' If you're ever unsure whether an abbreviation will land, writing it in full costs a few seconds and never confuses anyone. For more short replies like this, BTW is a good next one to learn.
Frequently asked questions
What does WTM mean in text?
WTM stands for 'what's the move?', a casual way to ask what the plan is.
How do you reply to WTM?
Suggest a plan, ask what they fancy, or say you're staying in. A specific suggestion is usually the most useful reply.
How old is the slang WTM?
Dictionary.com says it has been used to mean 'what's the move?' since at least the early 2010s.
Is WTM rude?
No, it's friendly and casual, but it's informal, so it's best kept for friends rather than work.
What does 'the move' mean in slang?
The move is the plan or the thing you're going to do next, so 'what's the move?' asks what everyone is doing.
Does WTM mean the same in gaming?
Mostly. In a gaming chat it often asks which game or mode the group is playing tonight.
