What Does DW Mean? Snapchat, Texting, and More

Co-authored by Imad Jbara and Eric McClure

Last Updated: March 16, 2022 References

Did someone drop a “dw” on Snapchat or over text and you’re scratching your head trying to figure out what it means? We’ve got your back! We’ll walk you through what dw means on Snapchat and other platforms, cover the various ways you could use dw, and walk you through the rare instances where it might have an alternative meaning.

Section 1 of 5:

What does dw mean on Snapchat?

On Snapchat, dw usually means "don’t worry." It’s all good! Dw almost always means “don’t worry,” which is a shortened version of “don’t worry about it.” There are a few other fringe cases where it might stand for something else, but in the vast majority of cases it’s usually someone telling you to not worry about something. As a note, there isn’t any difference between “dw,” “Dw, and “DW.”^{[1]
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- You: “I totally forgot, but I can’t meet up with you tonight. I have to go to basketball practice.”
- Them: “Dw! We can do something next week.”

Section 2 of 5:

What does dw mean over text or online?

Dw usually means “don’t worry” online and over text, too. Dw is an acronym that has been around for a while, and it’s most commonly used the same way over text, on Facebook, or on Instagram. You can safely assume dw is just a stand in for “don’t worry.”^{[2]
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- You: “Are you coming to the party tonight?”
- Them: “I’ll be there. Dw about me ghosting you.”

Section 3 of 5:

How to Use dw

1
Use dw to reassure someone that it’s not a big deal. This is the most common usage of dw. If someone apologizes to you or they have to cancel plans, you might use dw to soften your language and make it clear that they’ve got nothing to worry about.
- Them: “I’m so sorry I forgot about our meeting. Are you free now?”
- You: “Dw! It’s okay. I can meet now.”
2
Throw in a dw to soothe someone’s nerves. If someone is freaking out over something that isn’t that serious, you might use dw to signal that it’s going to be okay. It’s such a laid-back way of saying “don’t worry” that they’re sure to get the casual, comforting tone you’re going for.
- Them: “I blew it. I totally bombed that test, my mom is going to kill me.”
- You: “You always do this! I’m sure you did better than you think you did. Relax and dw about this.”
3
You might use dw to soften bad news. A casual “dw” can curb the blow of some unfortunate info, especially if you think the other person will take it harshly. If someone has a tendency to take warnings or bad info to heart, a quick dw might be what they need to keep them from reading too much into it.
- Them: “Omg, I totally left my planner at school. Do we have math homework due tomorrow?”
- You: “We do, but dw. It wasn’t very hard.”

Section 4 of 5:

How to Respond to dw

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Thank them for letting you know it’s okay. When someone sends you a message and they include a “dw,” they’re telling you that whatever is bothering you isn’t a big deal. Let them know that you appreciate it!
- You: “I’m worried that we won’t be able to get a table at the restaurant tonight.”
- Them: “Dw! I called ahead to make a reservation.”
- You: “Ah, you’re the best. Thank you!”
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Apologize again if you made a mistake. If you’re saying sorry for something and the other person sends you a “dw,” they’re accepting your apology. That can be the end of it if you’d like! However, if you really want to make sure they understand you’re sorry, apologize again to really make it clear that you feel bad.
- You: “I’m so sorry, I totally forgot to call you back yesterday.”
- Them: “Ah, dw about it. We can chat tonight if you’d like?”
- You: “Definitely! I am really sorry, I didn’t mean to ghost you.”

Section 5 of 5:

Alternative Definitions of dw

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It could mean “dear wife” when talking to a spouse. If your partner starts a heartfelt message or letter with “dw,” they may be using it as a greeting. Here, it means “dear wife,” or, “darling wife.” This isn’t a particularly popular usage, but if it’s from your partner and the message is loving or supportive, it probably means “dear wife.”^{[3]
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- “Dw, you mean so much to me that I can hardly contain the way I feel.”
- “It’s your birthday, dw! Today is yours, what do you want to do?”
2
DW might mean “Distant Worlds 2” if you’re talking to a gamer. Distant Worlds 2 is a popular strategy game about space exploration and combat. If you’re talking to a friend and they mention playing DW, they’re probably talking about the game. This is mainly used on gaming Discords the same way LOL means “League of Legends.”^{[4]
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- “Have you ever played DW?”
- “DW is on sale on Steam. It’s kind of like FTL, but with better graphics if you want to check it out.”
3
It could be a reference to “Doctor Who” if you’re talking TV. DW is a popular abbreviation among Whovians who love the popular detective show, Doctor Who. If someone is going on and on about their love for DW or they’re talking about Daleks and Time Lords, DW is probably a reference to the show.^{[5]
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- “Did you catch the most recent DW episode?”
- “You ever see any of the old DW? I don’t really like the newer seasons, but I love the old stuff.”