Vibes
noun (plural) /vaɪbz/ — The collective emotional atmosphere of a moment or person
Definition
The plural of vibe, often used as a standalone assessment: 'the vibes were off', 'good vibes only', 'I'm getting weird vibes.' Vibes is the collective emotional weather of a situation.
Beyond the definition
Vibes is what you say when you can't explain it but you know. 'The vibes are off' is both a description and a warning — trust the feeling even without the evidence.
Origin & history
Plural extension of 'vibe' (from vibration). Became a freestanding assessment word in internet and social culture — used to describe, endorse, or reject the energy of something.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Good vibes only — but also sometimes the bad vibes are information.
She walked in and the vibes shifted immediately.
The place looked perfect on photos but the vibes in person were completely off.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Vibes” when the meaning fits your context: The plural of vibe, often used as a standalone assessment: 'the vibes were off', 'good vibes only', 'I'm getting weird vibes.' Vibes is the collective emotional weather of a situation.
Synonyms
energy, atmosphere, feel, aura
Antonyms
dead energy, off-putting
Related words
Vibes vs atmosphere
Use 'atmosphere' for formal or physical descriptions of an environment. Use 'vibes' to describe the subjective, social energy shared by people in a space.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Disconnected in Modern Office
An adult stands in the middle of a bustling office, feeling disconnected and confused, as if they don't share the reality of colleagues.
The vibes are off. The bright, cold light and the figure's obvious isolation demonstrate that they do not share the collective emotional weather of the office. The discomfort confirms that the energy of the situation is fundamentally mismatched with the individual's sense of reality.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Vibes" mean?
Vibes is noun (plural) meaning: The collective emotional atmosphere of a moment or person. The plural of vibe, often used as a standalone assessment: 'the vibes were off', 'good vibes only', 'I'm getting weird vibes.' Vibes is the collective emotional weather of a situation.
Where does the word "Vibes" come from?
Plural extension of 'vibe' (from vibration). Became a freestanding assessment word in internet and social culture — used to describe, endorse, or reject the energy of something.