TBD

7 synonyms for TBD, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Abbreviation — To be determined, or to be decided: used as a placeholder for something that has not yet been worked out or agreed.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

open

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

pending

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

TBA TBC undecided up in the air unsettled

Synonyms by Meaning

1. abbreviation

To be determined, or to be decided: used as a placeholder for something that has not yet been worked out or agreed.

“Budget: TBD.”

TBA TBC undecided pending open

2. adjective informal

Used loosely of any matter that remains unresolved.

“Whether we go ahead at all is very much TBD.”

up in the air unsettled

How to use TBD

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

date TBD owner TBD cost TBD still TBD

Neutral; heavy use in project management, engineering specs and scheduling.

Etymology

An initialism of "to be determined", also read as "to be decided".

Full origin of TBD →

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.

People also searched

open pending unsettled undecided TBA

Nearby words

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