Definition

A status indicator shown to message recipients signaling that the sender is actively composing and has not yet sent a message. Usually displayed as 'typing...' or animated dots.

Example Usage

I saw the typing indicator for five minutes and then nothing—they must have deleted their message.

Origin

One of the earliest conversational indicators in instant messaging, present since AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) and other early chat platforms in the 1990s.

Fun Fact

The 'typing' indicator can cause anxiety in both senders (pressure to finish composing) and receivers (anticipation and speculation about what will be said).

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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See “typing” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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