instant message
Quick online chat
An instant message is a text-based communication sent and received in real time over the internet, distinguished from email by its immediacy and conversational flow.
The verb means to send such a message: She instant messaged me during the meeting.
Often shortened to IM.
The technology emerged in the 1990s and evolved into modern messaging apps.
Sending typed mobile messages
- DMPrivate digital correspondence
- PMAfter-midday time marker
- chatInformal verbal exchange
- WhatsAppMobile messaging platform
iMessage · Slack · Discord · Telegram · WeChat · Signal · Viber · Snapchat
Occurring at same moment
- liveTo exist or dwell
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- simultaneousHappening at same time
- immediacyQuality of being direct
presence · notification · ping · alert · online · away · busy · available
Digital pictograph for messaging
- notificationFormal notice given
- read receiptNotice message was opened
- typing indicatorShows someone writing
- statusOne's relative position
attachment · multimedia · sticker · GIF · reaction · mention · reply · forward
Communication or physical touch
- friendNon-kin mutual bond
- buddy listSaved messaging contacts
- usernameAccount identification string
- handlePart for gripping
screen name · profile · add · invite · request · network · reach out · keep in touch
texting
Sending typed mobile messages
WhatsApp · iMessage · Slack · Discord · Telegram · WeChat · Signal · Viber · Snapchat · SMS
synchronous
Occurring at same moment
- liveTo exist or dwell
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- simultaneousHappening at same time
immediacy · presence · notification · ping · alert · online · away · busy · available · response
emoji
Digital pictograph for messaging
- notificationFormal notice given
- read receiptNotice message was opened
- typing indicatorShows someone writing
status · attachment · multimedia · sticker · GIF · reaction · mention · reply · forward · pin
contact
Communication or physical touch
- friendNon-kin mutual bond
- buddy listSaved messaging contacts
- usernameAccount identification string
handle · screen name · profile · add · invite · request · network · reach out · keep in touch · long-distance
LOL
Internet amusement abbreviation
AFK · NVM · SMH · ROFL · IRL · GTG · abbreviation · acronym · shorthand · emoticon
- telecommunicationscell phone, cellphone, signals, cellular network, telephone calls
- text interfacescommand line, console, CLI, terminal, prompt
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, dialogue
- digital communicationemail, internet, chat, texting, SMS
- messagesemail, text, letters, dm, postcards
- textplain text, plaintext, text file, text editor, words
instant messagesnail mail
Physical letter delivery
voicemail · certified mail · telegram · letter · postcard
instant messagevoicemail
Recorded caller messages
phone call · voice memo · video call · audio message · spoken word
message, instant, messenger, messages, messaging, messaged, instantaneous, messengers, instantaneously