What Does 'Edging' Mean? The Slang Term And Meme Trend On TikTok And Elsewhere Explained

The slang term "edging," or "to edge," is suddenly everywhere in memes on TikTok, Twitter / X and Instagram, among other social media sites.

Whether it's telling someone "I edge to you" or claiming that you edge in the back of class, the slang term, which is sexual in nature, is akin to nonsensical memes that point out the hilarious absurdity of what "edging" actually entails.

If you're not sure what "edging" means and want to find out, maybe think again. It's not as pretty as it sounds. Let's explain.

What Does 'Edging' Mean?

"Edging" describes the sexual act of preventing and prolonging orgasm. Just at the moment of climax, one stops themselves from reaching it. Then, they repeatedly come to the "edge" of their orgasm multiple times, extending their intercourse or masturbation.

Many sexual health blogs have championed the benefits of edging because it purportedly helps with sex drive and gives partners with low sensitivity more effective climaxes. However, there are also risks involved, such as the dreaded "blue balls" according to websites like Medical News Today.

Where Did 'Edging' Come From?

It is currently unknown who created the slang term. However, it's been used online since at least 2003, evident in the first-ever definition for the word published on Urban Dictionary in December of that year.

What Are 'Edging' Memes?

The term "edging" is often used ironically in memes as a way to highlight how objectively absurd the activity is. A good example of this is the "edging in the back of class" memes on TikTok which pose a hyperbolically disgusting scenario that's not meant to be tried in real life.

Other memes about edging relate the human act to inanimate objects. For instance, someone posted a video to TikTok that showed them "edging" their microwave, as in, just before its timer reached one second, they open the door and prevented it from finishing.

Overall, memes about edging laugh at the seemingly silly act of preventing oneself from reaching climax. On its face, it doesn't make total sense. Plus, it's very similar to the variant term "gooning" which has its own weird connotations.

For the full history of edging, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.