The slang term "libbing out," and its tense variants like "lib out" and "libbed out," have taken over memes and viral posts this week, notably following the 2025 New York City mayoral election results with Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani claiming victory late last night.

For those who are out of the loop, the word "libbing" might look like gibberish. But for those familiar with the phenomenon, it's an all-too-familiar feeling, which sometimes leads to regret in hindsight.

Curious about what "Libbing Out" means and where it came from? Let's explain.

What Does 'Libbing Out' Mean?

To "lib out" means to become overwhelmed by a positive feeling of progressive, liberal politics. The act of "libbing out" usually entails posting about or speaking about liberal politics with enthusiasm and hope, often sparked by a real-world movement, event or politician that proved the "libs" correct.

"Lib" is therefore a shortening of "liberal," which in many internet contexts is used as a derogatory term by right-leaning opponents. Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro "destroying and owning libs" is a notable example of the term's historic use.

"Libbing out" is predominantly used by liberals, left-wing users and Democrats online, potentially as a way to take back the term and subvert its negative connotations, similar to ironic memes like Relax Liberals, It's Called Dark Humor.

Where Did 'Libbing Out' Come From?

The term's earliest known application was in a tweet shared by Twitter / X user @Eve6 in 2021. Although her account is deleted now, its legacy lives on as the first discovered use of "libbing out."

"Libs are pulling ligaments libbing out over this…" she wrote in an alliterated style. She was ultimately criticizing liberals for, in her mind, talking excessively about food shortages in Cuba.

Although that's the term's first known usage, "libbing out" wasn't used in a viral tweet until August 2024, when X user @BlackLanterrn said that Meghan McCain, daughter of former Senator John McCain, was going lib mode over the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

The tweet received over 13,000 likes and piggybacked on what she perceived as the momentum that the Democratic Party was experiencing at the time ahead of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.

How Is 'Libbing Out' Used In Memes?

"Libbing out" gained viral use on Election Day for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Democratic nominee and former Vice President Kamala Harris was squaring off against President Donald Trump. In the end, Trump was victorious.

In the aftermath, liberal internet users shared self-effacing jokes about how they "libbed out," portraying it as a blind moment of naivete. "We libbed too close to the sun," read one viral post from X user @ali_sivi.

The libs have brought back "libbing out" in recent days, though, following the 2025 New York City mayoral election, in which Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani bested Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent.

Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has seemingly given hope to many of those left of the political aisle. "We're allowed to lib out for 24 hours," wrote X user Bailey Moon (@Baileymoon15) in a viral tweet after the results were announced.

Even the official Democrats account (@TheDemocrats) has used the phrase since Mamdani's win. "LIBBING TF OUT," it wrote on Tuesday night, gaining over 7 million views in a short timeframe.

But not all of the libs were thrilled about the account's tweet. For instance, X user @brianonhere quote-tweeted the post, attaching an image macro of Barack Obama, reading, "You didn't build that."

What Are Some More 'Libbing Out' Memes?

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For the full history of Libbing Out, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.