# What word describes my situation?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 3, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096 "2010-05-03T00:53:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/1 "2010-05-03T00:53:02Z")
My relationship status has changed markedly this weekend – but I don’t know the right word to describe it. So I turn to the Teeming Millions.
I was duly introduced to a certain lady, we hit it off REAL well, and Saturday night we agreed in principle that we want to have a life together. 🆒😃
We’re well aware that we have much to discuss to get to the point of formalizing matters with an engagement. In the meantime, we truly feel as soul mates.
So what is the term for this situation of strongly committed, and holding off on an engagement until we’ve discussed the many elements of joining two lives?
(Wow! I can’t believe I just wrote about me that I’m on the path to getting engaged!)
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### Author:  [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/2 "2010-05-03T00:55:41Z")
Around here we call it a “relationship.”
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### Author:  [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/3 "2010-05-03T00:58:50Z")
Ah, but what subtype of relationship is my status?
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### Author:  [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/4 "2010-05-03T00:59:40Z")
Don’t the two of you ‘have an understanding?’
HH
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### Author:  [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/5 "2010-05-03T01:01:22Z")
The type of jewellery used to formalize such an arrangement is usually a promise ring, so I guess you are Promised?
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### Author:  [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/6 "2010-05-03T01:02:20Z")
> [@Scuba\_Ben](#):
>
> Ah, but what subtype of relationship is my status?
I don’t know. A good one?
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### Author:  [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/7 "2010-05-03T01:03:01Z")
Wait, you guys didn’t just _meet_ Saturday, right? That’s just when you had the conversation? My boyfriend and I are in the same phase. I describe it as co-habitating. If you’re not doing that, then you’re just dating.
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### Author:  [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/8 "2010-05-03T01:06:36Z")
> [@lezlers](#):
>
> Wait, you guys didn’t just _meet_ Saturday, right? That’s just when you had the conversation? My boyfriend and I are in the same phase. I describe it as co-habitating. If you’re not doing that, then you’re just dating.
We met socially at the end of March, went on our first date a week ago Saturday, and had said conversation this past Saturday. So we’re already old friends.
And the people who introduced us had money down that we would get to this point, whatever it’s called, inside of two weeks. I hope they had a LOT of money down. 🙂
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### Author:  [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/9 "2010-05-03T01:07:18Z")
I’d say you’re in a committed relationship.
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### Author:  [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/10 "2010-05-03T01:10:46Z")
> [@Scuba\_Ben](#):
>
> Ah, but what subtype of relationship is my status?
> [@AClockworkMelon](#):
>
> I don’t know. A good one?
You win, **Melon**.
> [@mnemosyne](#):
>
> I’d say you’re in a committed relationship.
That sounds good. We’re committed. And we’re committed to each other. 😃
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### Author:  [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/11 "2010-05-03T01:30:16Z")
I believe the word you are looking for is “fucked”.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/12 "2010-05-03T01:48:57Z")
> [@msmith537](#):
>
> I believe the word you are looking for is “fucked”.
Hopefully! (and often and enjoyably!!!).
I’d agree “committed relationship” is a good term.
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### Author:  [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/13 "2010-05-03T01:53:10Z")
> [@Scuba\_Ben](#):
>
> You win, **Melon**.
Hold still while I carve an M into your shirt with a sword.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/14 "2010-05-03T02:00:48Z")
Committed’s good. There’s also exclusive, as in neither of you is seeing anyone else.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/15 "2010-05-03T02:15:15Z")
“engaged to be engaged” is what my circle would call it. It differs from a “committed relationship” in that marriage has been specifically discussed.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/16 "2010-05-03T02:22:14Z")
How long have you two known each other?
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### Author:  [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/17 "2010-05-03T02:30:06Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#):
>
> “engaged to be engaged” is what my circle would call it. It differs from a “committed relationship” in that marriage has been specifically discussed.
I don’t get the whole “engaged to be engaged” thing. You’re either engaged,or you’re not. Engaged to be engaged just sounds like a term a guy would make up to get his girlfriend off his back about the subject.
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### Author:  [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/18 "2010-05-03T02:36:53Z")
> [@lezlers](#):
>
> I don’t get the whole “engaged to be engaged” thing. You’re either engaged,or you’re not. Engaged to be engaged just sounds like a term a guy would make up to get his girlfriend off his back about the subject.
For many people the engagement begins at the official proposal. It’s like a King being a Prince until he’s been officially crowned.
An ex and I had been together for a couple of years and we discussed marriage quite a bit. At the time we “knew” that we’d be getting married but neither of us had the money to buy a ring and propose to the other and so we were never engaged.
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### Author:  [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/19 "2010-05-03T02:43:03Z")
It is what it is; don’t worry too much about what label might fit.
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### Author:  [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)
#### Post date: [May 3, 2010, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-word-describes-my-situation/538096/20 "2010-05-03T02:58:17Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#):
>
> For many people the engagement begins at the official proposal. It’s like a King being a Prince until he’s been officially crowned.
>
> An ex and I had been together for a couple of years and we discussed marriage quite a bit. At the time we “knew” that we’d be getting married but neither of us had the money to buy a ring and propose to the other and so we were never engaged.
Yeah, that’s where the boyfriend and I are at. But I would never go around saying I’m “engaged to be engaged.” To me, that just means that you’re dating. Or, if you _must_ give it some special kind of label, you’re in a “serious relationship.” I mean, if we were no longer dating and now “engaged to be engaged” would I have to start introducing my boyfriend to people as my “almost fiancee?”
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