read it later
/riːd ɪt ˈleɪtər/
CommonSaving articles or content to a dedicated app or list with the intent to read them at a better time.
More specific than 'save for later' because it refers to dedicated reading apps and the ecosystem around them. People who use read-it-later apps often talk about their 'queue' or 'backlog' as a project.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | my read-it-later has become a to-feel-guilty-about-later | The reading backlog has grown so large it now causes anxiety instead of serving its purpose. | x, 2023 |
| 02 | does anyone actually read their read-it-later backlog or is it just a wish list | Questioning whether the category of saved content is ever actually read. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | added to read-it-later, will definitely read before it becomes irrelevant | Saving an article with mild sarcasm about whether it will actually be read in time. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | moved from pocket to matter and somehow my read-it-later backlog followed me like a cursed inheritance | Switching apps didn't clear the backlog; the saved articles moved with the migration. | reddit, 2023 |
Use it when
- You use a dedicated app to save articles for reading offline or at a later time.
- Describing the category of apps like Pocket, Instapaper, or Matter.
- Talking about a habit of collecting reading material you rarely return to.
Do not use it when
- You are talking about browser bookmarks specifically.Use “bookmark” instead.
- The content you are saving is video, not text.Use “watch later” instead.
Read it later vs save for later
read it later
Read it later is specifically about dedicated reading apps and their ecosystem.
save-for-later
Save for later is broader and includes any form of bookmarking, not just dedicated reading apps.
Origin and context
The term comes directly from the original name of the Pocket app, which launched in 2007 as 'Read It Later'. The app was rebranded to Pocket in 2012 but the phrase stayed in use as a category name for the entire genre of apps.
- First seen
- 2007
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/read-it-later