fear of missing out
1
the anxiety or unease that arises from feeling left out of a social experience or opportunity
FOMO, short for "fear of missing out," is the feeling of anxiety or insecurity that arises when one sees others enjoying experiences, especially on social media. It occurs when a person feels left out or worries about missing opportunities, events, or activities that others seem to be enjoying. FOMO can lead people to frequently check their devices, compare their lives to others, or feel pressured to join trends or events to avoid feeling left behind.
- She felt a wave of FOMO when she saw all her friends at the concert while she was stuck at home.
- After scrolling through social media all night, I couldn't shake the FOMO about not going to the party.
- His FOMO kicked in when he saw everyone posting pictures from the weekend trip he missed.
- I get FOMO every time I see my coworkers sharing photos of their lunch meetings.
- I didn't want to attend the event, but the FOMO made me change my mind at the last minute.