abbreviation
nm
en-EM
Nm (abbreviation) means not much; the standard reply in texting to "what are you doing?" or "what's up?". Example: “� wyd — nm, just watching something”
abbreviation
1
internet slang Not much; the standard reply in texting to "what are you doing?" or "what's up?".
"— wyd
— nm, just watching something"
"nm here, you?"
2
internet slang Never mind; used to cancel a question you have just asked or a point you were making.
"Do you know where the charger — nm, found it."
3
technical Nanometre, one billionth of a metre, the unit used for wavelengths of light and for chip manufacturing processes.
"Green light has a wavelength of about 550 nm."
"The processor is built on a 3 nm node."
4
technical Nautical mile, a distance of 1,852 metres used in sea and air navigation; also New Mexico in US postal addresses.
"The airport lies 12 nm north of the city."
How to use nm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishText shorthand for "not much" — or, in science, one billionth of a metre.
When to use it
Lower-case nm in texting and in scientific units; NM in capitals is New Mexico or a nautical mile.
Memory tip
If someone asks what you are doing, "nm, wbu?" — not much, what about you — is the complete standard reply.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
nm wbu
550 nm
7 nm process
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Fill the gap
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— wyd — _____, just watching something
Etymology
An initialism, standing in different contexts for "not much", "never mind", nanometre or nautical mile.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does nm mean in a text?
Most often "not much", answering a question like "wyd" or "what's up". If it appears on its own straight after a question the sender asked, it means "never mind" instead — they have worked it out or lost interest.
What is the difference between nm and nvm?
nvm only ever means "never mind". nm is ambiguous and usually means "not much", so if you want to cancel a question clearly, nvm is the safer choice.
Is nm nanometre or nautical mile?
Context decides. In physics, optics and chip manufacturing it is the nanometre and is always lower case. In navigation and aviation it is the nautical mile, more often written NM to avoid the clash.
What is the meaning of nm?
"nm" (abbreviation) means not much; the standard reply in texting to "what are you doing?" or "what's up?".
