Definition of vibe

Short definition: The word vibe describes the feeling, mood, or energy you sense from someone or something, and in slang it is often used to say that a situation, person, or moment feels right, comfortable, awkward, or simply matches how you feel inside.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word vibe? The word vibe is very common in modern English, especially in casual conversation and online. People use it to describe feelings, energy, or atmosphere that are hard to explain but easy to sense. It can refer to people, places, moments, or even content on social media. In slang, it is often used as a quick emotional reaction. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, so it feels human, clear, and easy to recognize in real life.

Forms: vibe, vibes, vibed, vibing
Related: mood n., energy n., atmosphere n.
Syllable: vibe

1. (Noun) The general feeling or atmosphere that you sense from a person place or situation.

   A vibe is the emotional or social feeling you pick up from someone or something, even if no one says it directly, such as a relaxed vibe, awkward vibe, or friendly vibe.

   The café had a calm vibe that made people want to sit quietly and stay longer.
   He liked the vibe of the team because everyone felt open and supportive.
   Something felt off, and she could tell from the vibe alone.

   Synonyms: atmosphere, mood, feeling, energy, tone, ambiance, overall feel, emotional climate, presence, sense, aura, setting
   Antonyms: flat feeling, dull atmosphere, no energy, lifeless mood, emptiness, cold tone, neutral setting, blank feeling, awkward silence, dead air, stillness, lack of emotion

2. (Noun) A personal emotional energy that someone gives off.

   Vibe can describe the emotional energy a person naturally gives off, such as confident, nervous, chill, or intense, often noticed immediately when meeting someone.

   She gives off a positive vibe that makes people feel comfortable around her.
   He had a serious vibe, so no one joked during the meeting.
   Their vibes matched, and the conversation flowed easily.

   Synonyms: energy, presence, aura, impression, personal feel, emotional signal, attitude, tone, character energy, social energy, personal mood, emotional output
   Antonyms: negative presence, awkward energy, cold attitude, tense feeling, off energy, uncomfortable presence, hostile vibe, bad impression, stiff mood, uneasy energy, distant feel, closed off presence

3. (Verb) To relax enjoy or feel in sync with a moment or situation.

   To vibe means to enjoy a moment naturally, feeling comfortable and connected without forcing anything, often used when talking about music, people, or shared experiences.

   They were just vibing to music and enjoying the evening without any plans.
   He likes to vibe alone late at night while listening to calm songs.
   The group vibed well together from the start.

   Synonyms: chill, relax, connect, enjoy the moment, feel aligned, hang out, go with the flow, sync up, feel comfortable, feel good, unwind, settle in
   Antonyms: feel tense, force conversation, feel awkward, disconnect, overthink, stress out, feel out of place, clash, struggle socially, feel uneasy, be uncomfortable, feel pressured

4. (Slang) A quick reaction meaning something feels right or relatable.

   In slang, people say vibe or good vibe to react positively to something that feels right, cool, or emotionally accurate, often used in comments or short replies.

   She commented vibe under the photo because it perfectly matched her mood.
   That playlist is such a vibe for late night drives.
   The outfit was simple but a total vibe.

   Synonyms: mood, relatable, feels right, good energy, same feeling, aesthetic, matching vibe, cool feeling, right energy, perfect feel, big relate, nice energy
   Antonyms: not it, off vibe, wrong energy, not relatable, awkward feel, bad mood, mismatch, no connection, uncomfortable vibe, weird energy, not my style, off feeling