GWI

What Does GWI Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

GWI means "Get With It."

More Observations...

The abbreviation GWI, with the meaning "Get With It," is typically used to tell someone to catch up with the conversation or get up to date with the current situation or latest trends. GWI was a popular saying in the 1960s and 1970s. Used mostly between friends nowadays, it is often delivered with a touch of sarcasm or humour. Of note, GWI can also refer to "Gulf War Illness," which is a chronic disorder affecting personnel involved in the 1990 91 Gulf War.

Image for GWI

When I write GWI, I mean this:

GWI is used by cool dudes to encourage uncool dudes to keep up.

Summary of Key Points

"Get with It" is, by far, the most common meaning for GWI when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

GWI
Definition:	Get with It
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	5: Extremely difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of GWI in Sentences

Here are examples of GWI in conversations:

• Carl: Hey! Did you see the news on NBC?
• Don: NBC? GWI, man! The "lame-stream" media is so last century.

• Chris: Do you want to come up to my place and listen to some DVDs?
• Pam: GWI, dude. Music sounds so much better on vinyl.

An Academic Look at GWI

As it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., "Gee Dbl-Yoo Eye"), GWI is classified as an initialism abbreviation. Initialisms are different to acronyms, which are spoken like words. The abbreviation GWI is typically used as an imperative (i.e., an order).

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said "Get With It" instead of using the abbreviation GWI.

Example of GWI Used in a Text

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