direct-message
direct-message — noun
1. a written note or communication sent through a social-networking service that is
a written note or communication sent through a social-networking service that is visible only to the person who receives it and not to the general public or other followers
Mei-Ling sent Theo a direct-message on Instagram to share the party address.
send [sb] a direct-message + [platform]
The direct-message from Amara arrived while Kwame was checking his Twitter notifications.
passive: direct-message + arrive + from [sb]
I posted the joke as a public reply instead of a direct-message.
Kenji received a direct-message from an old classmate who found him on Facebook.
- DM
the standard abbreviation; used in all registers from casual chat to professional social-media management
- private message
a broader term that also works on forums and messaging apps, not just social-media platforms
- PM
short for private message; common on older forums and some gaming platforms
- public post
a message visible to all followers or the general public
文法句型
send + [sb] + a direct-message
receive + a direct-message + from + [sb]
用法筆記
Often abbreviated to DM (uncountable) in informal digital writing: 'Send me a DM' or 'Check your DMs'. The countable form (a direct-message) is more common in formal or careful writing.
常見錯誤
direct-message — verb
- direct-messagepresent simple I / you / we / they
- direct-messages3rd person singular
- direct-messaging-ing form
- direct-messagedpast simple
1. to contact a specific person privately through a social-media platform by sendin
to contact a specific person privately through a social-media platform by sending them a written note that only they can read, rather than posting it publicly
Omar direct-messaged Diego on LinkedIn to ask about the project deadline.
direct-message [sb] + on [platform] + to [purpose]
The yoga instructor direct-messages her students every Friday with a class schedule.
subject [role] + direct-messages + [recipient] + frequency adverbial
Nadia direct-messaged the event coordinator to confirm the reservation for Saturday night.
Noam direct-messages his bandmates whenever a new song idea comes to mind.
- DM
the informal abbreviation; very common in spoken and casual written contexts ('DM me')
- message
broader meaning; can refer to any kind of messaging, not necessarily private social-media communication
- slide into DMs
informal and jocular; implies a romantic or flirtatious approach
- post publicly
to share content so that all followers can see it
文法句型
direct-message + [sb]
direct-message + [sb] + about + [topic]
用法筆記
Frequently used in the imperative or abbreviated form (DM me) in informal settings. Past tense is direct-messaged. The hyphen is often dropped in casual writing ('direct message me'), but the hyphenated form (direct-message) is standard in dictionaries and style guides.