text messages

Typed phone communications

Text messages are brief written communications sent between mobile phones or other devices.

The term emerged with SMS technology in the 1990s and now covers messages sent through various apps.

As a verb, to text message someone is to send such a communication, though the shorter text has largely replaced it: I'll text you later.

SMS

cellphone

Portable wireless telephone

  • mobileCapable of movement
  • sendCause to arrive elsewhere
  • receiveAccept something offered

notification · inbox · emoji · acronyms · LOL · BRB · shorthand · character limit · group chat · read receipt

tone

banter

Playful, teasing exchange

  • flirtingPlayfully showing romantic interest
  • gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
  • chitchatInformal light conversation

heart-to-heart · check-in · venting · small talk · catching up · congratulations · condolences · apology · invitation · reminder

Categories
Opposites
communication modality

text messagesvoice calls

Audio telephone communication

phone calls · video calls · verbal communication · telephone calls · voicemail

communication directness/intimacy

text messagesphysical presence

Being somewhere in body

direct speech

permanence and formality

text messagesformal letters

Structured professional written messages

official correspondence · handwritten letters · legal documents · certified mail · business correspondence

Family

text, message, messages, texting, texted, messaging, messaged, text message, texter

Familiarity
Top 10,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G