What Does “ASAP” Mean?
As Soon As Possible — urgently, right now, without delay.
The full meaning
ASAP means as soon as possible — a request or instruction to do something urgently. It started as a military and business abbreviation in the 1950s and leaked into everyday speech so completely that most people don't even think of it as slang anymore. Saying something is needed ASAP means drop everything and handle it now.
Where “asap” comes from
ASAP appeared in American military communications in the 1950s as a written abbreviation for 'as soon as possible.' It spread through business memos and office culture in the 1970s-80s, then went fully mainstream with texting and WhatsApp, where typing four letters is faster than seven words. Today it's used globally — you'll hear it in Harare kombi conversations and Tokyo boardrooms alike.
How it’s actually used
Used in requests, instructions, and messages to signal urgency. 'Send me that ASAP' means now, not when you get a chance. In WhatsApp-first cultures like Zimbabwe, it's one of the most common abbreviations in work and family group chats. Can also be said out loud as either the letters A-S-A-P or as a word 'ay-sap.'
✔ For parents & teachers
Completely harmless — one of the safest abbreviations in the language. If anything, hearing your child use ASAP correctly means they understand workplace and professional communication.
Related slang
Last updated: 2026-07-15. Slang evolves fast — we review definitions regularly.