orbit
/ˈɔːrbɪt/
CommonTo hover around someone online or in person without making a real move, usually out of a crush.
Often described from the outside looking in. Orbiters are rarely aware of how obvious they are.
Real-world examples3 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | he watches every single one of my stories but has never once texted me. classic orbit | Consistent passive engagement with no follow-through is the definition of orbiting. | tiktok, 2023 |
| 02 | my ex has been orbiting for 3 months. liked my beach pic at 11pm. coward behavior | Late-night likes from an ex are a known orbiting signal. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | stop orbiting and just shoot your shot already | Passive hovering is a waste of time compared to actually saying something. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- Someone watches all your stories but never texts.
- An ex keeps liking posts without ever reaching out.
- Someone shows up at the same places as a crush consistently.
Do not use it when
- You just mean someone follows you online casually.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
Borrowed from astronomy. Applied to social media behavior around 2018-2019 to describe ex-partners or crushes who hover passively.
- First seen
- late-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/orbitUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0