abbreviation
TBD
tee-bee-DEE
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.”
abbreviation
1
To be determined, or to be decided: used as a placeholder for something that has not yet been worked out or agreed.
"Budget: TBD."
"The launch date is still TBD while we wait on legal."
adjective
1
informal Used loosely of any matter that remains unresolved.
"Whether we go ahead at all is very much TBD."
How to use TBD
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot decided yet.
When to use it
Neutral; heavy use in project management, engineering specs and scheduling.
Memory tip
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 ↓
Common pairings
date TBD
owner TBD
cost TBD
still TBD
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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.
What is the meaning of 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.
