P2W

What Does P2W Mean in a Text?

Gaming Slang for Newbies

If you're new to gaming, then there is more to learn than just a game's moves and strategy. Gamers should also be familiar with gaming slang, which has around 200 terms in common usage, many of which are difficult for new players to guess. But, you should persevere. Understanding gaming jargon improves collaboration by helping gamers to convey complex strategies, emotions, and actions quickly. Here is the term you care about:

P2W means "Pay to Win," "Play To Win," and "Professional Time Waster."

Pay to Win

P2W is used in gaming with the meaning "Pay to Win," to refer to games that allow players to purchase items or abilities (e.g., more powerful weapons, additional health points) that give them an advantage in the game, either over other players or NPCs (Non-Player Characters). For example:

Julie: Have you ever played Clash of Clans?
Len: I wouldn't bother unless you've got loads of money. You don't stand a chance unless you are prepared to P2W.

P2W is a very controversial aspect of gaming, especially in MP (Multiplayer) games. Many players strongly object to people being able to pay to trump their own hard-earned experience or superior skills.

Check out our full list of gaming terms.

Play to Win

P2W is widely used in sports, business, and gaming, with the meaning "Play To Win." In this context it indicates that a person or team takes the activity or endeavor seriously and intends to triumph. For example:

Clive: Wow! You're taking this project very seriously.
Liz: There's no point in doing a job, if you don't take it seriously. I always P2W.

Professional Time Waster

P2W is also used with the meaning "Professional Time Waster." In this context it refers to someone who is either dedicated to avoiding work, or needlessly wastes the time of other people (e.g., by requesting complicated quotations for a job when they have no real intention of contracting the service in question). For example:

Frank: A Mr Johnson just rang and asked for a quote for a holiday in Bali.
Steph: I wouldn't invest too much time in that. He's a P2W.

P2W is often typed as PTW.

Image for P2W

When I write P2W, I mean this:

P2W also means "Play To Win" and "Professional Time Waster."

Summary of Key Points

"Pay to Win" is the most common definition for P2W on gaming apps, such as Discord, TeamSpeak and on messaging apps like Instagram.

P2W
Definition:	Pay to Win
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

"Play to Win" is another common definition for P2W.

P2W
Definition:	Play to Win
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

"Professional Time Waster" is also a common definition for P2W.

P2W
Definition:	Professional Time Waster
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at P2W

Whether used with the meaning "Pay to Win," "Play To Win," or "Professional Time Waster," P2W is classified as an internet slang term because some of its characters are used as substitutes for letters. Most "slang terms" were introduced to reduce the number of key strokes required to type the word. However, since the arrival of predictive texting and keyboards on mobile devices, this efficiency is no longer required. Nevertheless, "slang terms" are still regularly used to make messages more entertaining or to express individuality. "Slang terms" differ from emoticons because they are not pictorial representations.