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dm
1noun
- a direct message sent to one or more users of a social media service or private messaging service, usually when the accounts involved have an established relationship, as when the recipient is linked to, friends with, or following the sender on a social media platform:
He sent me a scary and abusive dm, so I reported the message and blocked his account.
verb (used with object)
- to send a direct message to (another user of such a service).
dm
2abbreviation for
- decimeter; decimeters.
DM
3abbreviation for
Dm.
4abbreviation for
DM
1abbreviation for
- (in Canada) deputy minister
- (the former) Deutschmark
dm
2symbol for
- decimetre
dm
3the internet domain name for
- Dominica
Word History and Origins
Origin of dm1
Example Sentences
“If you recognize this man, please dm me. He pepper-sprayed me,” read another post on Instagram.
“I want to say im here for anyone who needs to talk or vent or open uncommunicated spaces within themselves. Please dm me if you need a safe space to be heard.”
And they shouldn’t have to enter contests, fill spreadsheets, dm strangers or deal w/ middlemen either!
"He just released a statement where he didn’t at ALL acknowledge how fake the dm’s were, & now claims to have emails that don’t exist."
“Sorry I took your head off … shoot me a dm and I’ll hook it up for you,” Smith replied.
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About This Word
What else does DM mean?
DM stands for direct message, or a private message with a person on social media, especially Twitter. For you role players, DM can also stand for the Dungeon Master in a game of Dungeons & Dragons.
How is DM pronounced?
[dee-em]Where does DM come from?
DM for Dungeon Master emerges after the release of the roleplaying game Dungeon & Dragons in the 1970s. DMs organize and referee the game, including guiding the narrative for all the character players.
DM for direct message takes off after Twitter released the service in 2018. DMs allow two users or a group of users to send messages to each other that only they can see, whereas normal posts are public unless otherwise restricted. Often, users have to mutually follow each other to send and receive DMs. Right after the launch of the feature, DM was already being used as a verb (e.g., DM me when you can).
How is DM used in real life?
DM is widely used by Dungeons & Dragons players everywhere. Some players view DMs with trepidation, as they can control the game—potentially to their downfall. This has led to the expression beware the smiling DM, who might have some mischievous trick up their sleeve.
Dungeon Master: you are at your congressional bbq. a reporter approaches from the cro-
Gianforte: i punch him
DM: *smiling, shakes head* ok— Jared Rosen (@notquitefrodo) May 25, 2017
While closely associated with Twitter, DM can be used of other private-messaging services on social media platforms such as Instagram or Facebook.
Individuals may DM one another for a variety of reasons (e.g., to get contact info for an interview or resolve an issue with a company). However, DMs have a creepier reputation in popular culture. Sliding into the DMs is an expression for when a person contacts someone privately, often men seeking sexual encounters with women.
When you slide into her DM then realize she knows your gf pic.twitter.com/laIU9xUIp8
— Bl@ize (@Netoovic) December 4, 2018
Note that DM can also stand for direct mail or direct mailer, used by marketers and campaigners.
More examples of DM:
“Kevin Durant defends decision to join Warriors in DM exchange with fan”
—Phillip Barnett, USA Today (headline), September 2018
Note
This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.
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