Search
Select the dictionary language
away from keyboard
01
used to indicate a brief absence from the game, chat, or device
What does "AFK" mean in gaming slang?
This term originated in online multiplayer games during the 1990s, where players needed a quick way to signal temporary absence without leaving the game entirely. It is used to indicate that a player is "Away From Keyboard," meaning they are momentarily unavailable to play or respond, often to avoid being penalized or kicked from a match. The structure is a simple initialism combining the first letters of the phrase, and it has since spread into general internet communication for any brief disengagement.
Examples
She typed AFK before stepping away from her computer.
