ASAP stands for “as soon as possible” and means you need to do something right away, without unnecessary delay. When your teacher asks you to turn in your permission slip ASAP, she means don't wait until tomorrow if you can do it today. When a coach yells “Get back on defense, ASAP!” he wants the team moving immediately, not after they finish complaining about the referee's call.

People use ASAP when time matters but they can't give you an exact deadline. It's different from “do it now this second” (which would be more urgent) and “whenever you get around to it” (which would be less urgent). ASAP means make it a priority and get it done quickly, but you still have a little flexibility to finish what you're doing first.

You'll see ASAP written in notes, texts, and emails. Say it like “A-S-A-P” (four letters) or “AY-sap” (one word). Both ways work. When someone writes “Reply ASAP,” they're saying your response matters and they're waiting for it. The phrase signals urgency without being rude, though using it for everything can make people take you less seriously when something genuinely needs quick attention.