Say it like this
- Let's keep this async to respect everyone's time zones.
- I prefer async communication for this task.
- We should handle this async rather than scheduling another meeting.
Use it at work
Avoiding a meeting
- Can we do this async instead of a call?
- I'll share a doc so we can discuss it async.
Setting expectations
- I'm working async today, so I'll reply in a few hours.
- We're mostly async because of time zones.
In code
- This function is async, so you need to await it.
- Make the upload async so the page doesn't freeze.
Don't say this
Async is not a verb meaning to solve something urgently. It describes the mode of communication, not the action itself.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| async | Not at the same time | Remote teams, developers | Docs, Slack, Loom |
| sync | At the same time, live | Teams | Calls and meetings |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your manager asks how to handle feedback from a distributed team. What do you say?
2. Since we have team members in three continents, we decided to make our standups _______ instead of holding a live video call.
3. Which sentence uses async incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this using async: 'We should not have everyone meet at the same time to discuss this. Instead, people should write their thoughts when they have time.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Let's keep this async to respect everyone's time zones."
We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.
More about async
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"Instead of a meeting, we will do an async standup this week where everyone posts updates in Slack."
- in a code review
"The code review process is async, so you can leave comments and the author will respond when they're available."
- in a team meeting
"Since we have team members across five time zones, we decided to move this discussion async using our internal documentation wiki."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Avoid confusing async (asynchronous communication/work) with async (asynchronous programming). Context usually clarifies which meaning is intended.
- ✕Can we sync up async tomorrow?✓Can we sync up synchronously tomorrow at 10am?
Sync up and async are opposites. Sync up means to meet in real time, which is the opposite of async.
- ✕This project is too complex for async work.✓This project requires some synchronous collaboration, though we will use async updates when possible.
Async is not about complexity but about communication style. Most projects benefit from a mix of async and synchronous work.
Other forms(2)
- async noun
"Our team prefers async for most communication."
- async adjective
"We set up an async communication channel for the project."
Often used with(5)
- async communication · The most common phrase describing non-real-time information exchange
- async work · Tasks completed independently without requiring real-time collaboration
- async-first · A company culture or policy that prioritizes asynchronous communication as the default
- keep it async · A suggestion to handle something through asynchronous rather than synchronous channels
- async update · A status report or message shared at a time convenient for the sender, not requiring immediate response
Similar words(2)
- asynchronous · The full formal term from which async is abbreviated. Used interchangeably in professional settings.
- non-real-time · Less common but emphasizes that responses do not happen immediately
Opposites(3)
- sync
- synchronous
- real-time
Questions(5)
- What does async mean in tech communication?
- Async (short for asynchronous) means communication or work that does not require everyone to be present or respond at the same time. Team members can read, review, and respond when it fits their schedule. This is especially useful for distributed teams across different time zones.
- How do you use async in a work conversation?
- You typically use async as an adjective or noun to describe communication channels or work styles. Examples: 'Let us handle this async via email,' 'We prefer async updates in our team,' or 'Can we keep this async to avoid scheduling conflicts?'
- Is async formal or informal?
- Async is casual but professional. It is widely used in tech company Slack messages, emails, and meetings. While it started as tech slang, it is now standard vocabulary in the tech industry and appears in job descriptions and company policies.
- What is the difference between async and sync?
- Async means asynchronous (non-real-time, people respond when they can), while sync means synchronous (real-time, everyone participates at the same time). A synchronous meeting requires everyone to be online together. An async update lets people respond on their own schedule.
- Why do tech companies emphasize async work?
- Async work respects time zones, reduces meeting fatigue, and allows engineers to focus on deep work without constant interruptions. It also creates a written record of decisions, making it easier for new team members to understand project history and context.
