TBD
TBD (abbreviation) means to be determined, or to be decided: used as a placeholder for something that has not yet been worked out or agreed. Example: “Budget: TBD.”
How to Use TBD
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot decided yet.
Neutral; heavy use in project management, engineering specs and scheduling.
In documents TBD usually sits in a field like a value; in speech people say "that's still TBD" as if it were an adjective.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Budget: _____.
Etymology
An initialism of "to be determined", also read as "to be decided".
Related Words
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between TBD and TBA?
TBD means nobody has decided yet — the answer does not exist. TBA means the answer exists but has not been announced. In a project plan, an owner who is TBD has not been chosen; an owner who is TBA has been chosen but not named publicly.
Does TBD mean "to be determined" or "to be decided"?
Both readings are in use and mean the same thing in practice. "To be determined" is more common in American and technical writing; "to be decided" is more common in everyday British use.
Can TBD be used in formal documents?
Yes, and it frequently is — in specifications, contracts in draft, project plans and schedules. Any TBD left in a final signed document is normally treated as a defect to be resolved before approval.