interjection

FTW

eff-tee-DUB-uhl-yoo

Quiz me More like this

FTW (interjection) means Short for 'for the win', added after something you are enthusiastically endorsing. Example: “Cold pizza for breakfast, ftw.”

interjection

slang Short for 'for the win', added after something you are enthusiastically endorsing.

"Cold pizza for breakfast, ftw."

"Noise-cancelling headphones on a night flight, FTW."

How to use FTW

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA way of saying 'this is the best' about something you like.

When to use it

Informal internet and spoken slang, often written in lower case. It usually comes at the end of a phrase rather than in the middle of a sentence.

Memory tip

Place it after the thing you are praising, with a comma: early flights ftw. Putting it first does not work.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

FTL GG → FWIW

Common pairings

ftw for the win team X ftw

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “FTW” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Cold pizza for breakfast, _____.

Etymology

An initialism of the phrase for the win, which comes from gaming and quiz-show language for a move or answer that secures victory.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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for the win hands down every time

Related words

always whenever

Frequently asked questions

What does FTW mean?

It stands for for the win. Tacked onto the end of a phrase it means that the thing named is the best option or the one that settles the argument, as in slow cooker ftw.

Where did FTW come from?

The full phrase for the win comes from games and quizzes, where a final move or answer wins the round. The abbreviation spread through online gaming and forums and is now used well beyond them.

What is the opposite of FTW?

The usual counterpart is FTL, meaning for the loss, used to mark something as the worst choice. It is much less common than FTW and is generally understood only by people already familiar with the pattern.

What is the meaning of FTW?

"FTW" (interjection) means short for 'for the win', added after something you are enthusiastically endorsing.

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