~

See also: ˜ [U+02DC SMALL TILDE], ⁓ [U+2053 SWUNG DASH], 〜 [U+301C WAVE DASH], ◌̃, ⸞ [U+2E1E TILDE WITH DOT ABOVE], ⸟ [U+2E1F TILDE WITH DOT BELOW], and Unsupported titles/Linearized tilde

~ U+007E, ~ TILDE [unassigned: U+007F–U+009F] ← } [U+007D] Basic Latin   → [U+00A0]

Character variations

～ U+FF5E, ～ FULLWIDTH TILDE ← ｝ [U+FF5D] Halfwidth and Fullwidth Forms ｟ → [U+FF5F]

Translingual

Symbol

~ (English symbol name tilde)

1. In East-Asian languages, indicates a range of numbers

   Example, 3~10 = "3 to 10"; ~9 = "up to nine"; 50~ = "50 and greater."

2. (mathematics) "is equivalent to"; "twiddles"
3. "is of the same order of magnitude as"
4. (logic) negation

   ~p

5. (linguistics) alternating with
6. (computing) user's home directory in Unix-like operating systems
7. (lexicography) Replaces the headword in derivatives or example sentences, to save space.

   black, adj: of the colour perceived in the absence of light. ~ eye: one that has been visibly bruised.

8. (Internet slang) Appended to an utterance to indicate a flirty, playful tone.
9. Stylized form of -.
   • 1927 September 15, “For the bath”, in Vogue, Greenwich, Conn.: The Condé Nast Publications, Inc., page 189:

     Here are the three finest things to be had ~ a group supremé, in bathware. Sold everywhere in the United States ~ used ensemblé. They are in perfect harmony. Lanchère Blue Rose Bath Crystals dissolve quickly and at the same time release their fragrance.

   • 1996 January 22, The Times-News, number 22, Twin Falls, Ida., page D-3, column 1:

     So Cremey! / Light or dark chocolate / Butter cremes / Raspberry / Lemon ~ Orange ~ Lime / Vanilla ~ Mint / $6.30 lb

   • 2012, Tim Stump, Le Dernier Tour D'ivoire ~ Three Seasons Quick and Collected Poetry, →ISBN:

     Le Dernier Tour D'ivoire ~ Three Seasons Quick and Collected Poetry

Usage notes

In English, this is called tilde. The symbol may be placed mid-line or superscript that depends on fonts, or use swung dash (⁓) that is always mid-line.

Synonyms

• (logical negations): ¬, !
• (replaces the headword): ⁓, ― (in Japanese dictionaries)

Derived terms

• ~ ~ (encloses text to indicate snarkiness)

English

Etymology

(indicating emotion): Perhaps borrowed from Japanese ~, 〜, 〰, emphatic form of ー (long vowel mark).

Diacritical mark

~ (obsolete)

2. Written on a letter, usually a vowel, in place of an omitted n or m.

   cõtempt — contempt

   • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Mark j:[1–2], folio xliij, verso:

     The begyñyng off the Goſpell of Ieſu Chriſt the ſonne off God / as yt ys written in the prophettꝭ […]

   • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, John ij:[15], folio cxxj, verso:

     And he [Jesus] made a ſcourge off ſmale cordes / and drave thẽ all out off the temple / bothe ſhepe and oxen / ãd powred doune the changers money / and overthrue their tables.

   • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts iij:[7–8], folio clvij, recto:

     And immediatly his fete ãd anclebones receaved ſtrenght / and he ſprange / ſtode / ãd alſo walked / ãd entred with them into the temple walkinge / and leapynge / and laudynge god.

   • 1580, T. Stapleton and Martiall (Two Popish Heretikes) Confuted, and of Their Particular Heresies Detected, London: Middleton, Henrie, page 167:

     And you ſhall finde, that the ſcriptures will instruct the man of God vnto all good works, & make him wiſe vnto ſaluation, if theſe wil not ſerue your turn, ſeeke where you wil, & find yͤ deuil & eternal damnatiõ.

   • c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Thirde Booke] Chapter 21”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 283, recto:

     Yet could she for some yeares, so carry her selfe among them, that they found cause in the delicacie of her sex, of admiration, not of cõtempt : & which was notable, even in the time that many countries were full of wars (which for old grudges to Corinth were thought still would conclude there) yet so hãdled she the matter, that the threatens ever smarted in the threatners; she using so straũge, and yet so well‐succeeding a temper, that she made her people by peace, warlike ; her courtiers by sports, learned ; her Ladies by Love, chast.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Peter 3:9, column 2:

     The Lord is not ſlacke cõcerning his promiſe (as ſome men count ſlackneſſe) […].

Symbol

~

2. (mathematics, Internet slang, text messaging) Approximately.

   She brought ~10 shirts for a two-day trip.

   • 2024 August 29, Mehera Bonner, “Brittany Cartwright Served Jax Taylor Divorce Papers While They Were Filming ‘The Valley’”, in Cosmopolitan‎^[1]:

     In case you hadn’t heard, we have another Bravolebrity breakup on our hands. And by that, I mean The Valley stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright are getting divorced ~six months after announcing their separation.

4. (Internet slang, text messaging) Indicating joy, elation, excitement, or a playful tone.

   Awesome~ I hope you enjoy your trip!

   • 2016, Yukiya Murasaki, translated by ZackZeal, How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord, volume 6, J-Novel Club, published 2018, →ISBN:

     “Bufh! Y-Y-You can leave everything to us, Miss Horn!” “We’ll keep your luggage safe!” “Oh god, my nose won’t stop bleeding…” “Please, misters! And thanksies~” Horn exclaimed enthusiastically as she got away from them.

See also

• (approximately): ≈

Chinese

Alternative forms

• ～ (the fullwidth tilde)

Punctuation mark

~

1. Indicates the starting point of a range; from.
2. Indicating the lengthening of a pronunciation.

Japanese

Alternative forms

• ～ (the fullwidth tilde)
• 〜 (the wave dash)

Punctuation mark

~

1. Indicates the starting point of a range; from.
2. Indicating the lengthening of a pronunciation.

Korean

Alternative forms

• ~ (the halfwidth tilde)
• ～ (the fullwidth tilde)

Punctuation mark

~

1. Indicates the starting point of a range; from.
2. Indicating the lengthening of a pronunciation.