TBR pile
/ˌtiːbiːˈɑːr paɪl/
Very CommonThe stack of books you own but haven't read yet. TBR = to be read.
Often said with self-deprecating humor. Having a huge TBR is a reader badge of honor as much as a problem.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | my tbr pile has 80 books and i just bought 6 more | The speaker keeps expanding their unread pile despite the backlog. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 02 | this summer i'm actually attacking my tbr pile | Committing to finally reading through the backlog. | instagram, 2024 |
| 03 | saw a recommendation and immediately added it to the tbr pile like i don't have 70 unread books already | Added yet another book despite the existing backlog. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | the tbr pile stares at me with judgment every morning | The unread books feel like an obligation or source of guilt. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- Someone has a stack of unread books they've been meaning to get to.
- Talking about a reading list that keeps growing.
- Justifying or joking about buying more books despite not having finished others.
Do not use it when
- You mean a general reading list or wishlist of books you don't own yet.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
TBR as an abbreviation for 'to be read' has been used in online reading communities since at least the early 2000s on forums like LibraryThing and Goodreads.
- First seen
- early-2000s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/tbr-pileUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0