Memes dictionary
number neighbor
[nuhm-ber ney-ber]
What does number neighbor mean?
A number neighbor is someone who has the same (cell) phone number as you, except the last digit is one lower or higher. Sharing funny or charming text-message exchanges with one’s number neighbor went viral online in August 2019.
Where does number neighbor come from?
Say your (cell) phone number is 123-456-6788. Your number neighbor, typically, would have a number ending -6787 or -6789.听 Number, of course, refers to phone number (usually of a cell phone), and neighbor, the idea that the two numbers are next to each, like neighbors.听
An earlier version of聽number neighbor was text door neighbor (a pun on next-door neighbor), entered on Urban Dictionary in 2008. Sharing posts of text-message exchanges on social media got some attention in 2016.
The term number neighbor was entered on Urban Dictionary in 2009, but the trend of texting one’s number neighbor and sharing screenshots of the results went viral in early late July, early August 2019.
This happened after Twitter user @ryanlavalleee texted his number neighbor and posted the aftermath (the “neighbor” wasn’t too keen on getting to know the tweeter).听
one time i tried texting my phone number neighbor and he sucked so much
— ryan (@ryanlavalleee)
Still, @ryanlavalleee’s tweet went viral鈥攁nd started a trend.
My number neighbor and I ending racism 馃馃徏馃馃徔
— Mikey McDermott (@MikeyMcD50)
Examples of number neighbor
Who uses number neighbor?
Number neighbor is mainly used in the context of the trend of texting one’s number neighbor and sharing the results online. The activity is generally meant to be fun.
Some of the results have been very positive, friendly, and wholesome experiences.
My number neighbor is going through it 馃槥
— faze rain (@FaZe_Rain)
texted my number neighbor and it turned into a wholesome conversation. (:
— c (@cgracedelarosa)
Other times, the number neighbor conversation has been negative, prompting confusion, irritation, and creepy advances.
dang some of y鈥檃ll really can鈥檛 have fun 馃槶
— reid (@reidjmarshburn)
HAHA damn how y鈥檃ll get cool number neighbors 馃様
— kai 鈽� (@youngkaileaa)
As is common with internet trends, number neighbor inspired many write-ups in popular media鈥攁nd inspired a lot of humor online, with people making various relationship and friendship jokes, especially about anxiously awaiting validation by getting a text from their number neighbor.
haven鈥檛 texted my number neighbor yet bc i can鈥檛 even reply to my own family and friends 馃槳
— crygayby (@felirich_)
Waiting for my text door number neighbor to text me first like:
— Justin koopman (@jpkoopman12)
Texting all my ex鈥檚 鈥淗ey number neighbor鈥� so I can get a response 馃槇
— 饾悕饾悩 (@JustNy)
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of number neighbor like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of number neighbor that will help our users expand their word mastery.