Submarining
- “he disappeared for months then texted like nothing happened”
- “someone came back with no explanation”
- “the word for reappearing after ghosting”
- “why did they resurface out of nowhere”
01 · Side by side
Side by side
Comparison sheet
| Aspect | Submarining | Zombieing |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledges the gap? | No | Usually, with an excuse |
| Opening move | Carries on as normal | 'Hey stranger' |
| Leaves you | Disoriented | Ambushed |
| Implies | It was never a big deal | There was a reason |
02 · Which one you meant
Which one did you mean?
In shortReaders who land here meaning Submarining rather than Zombieing are usually searching for phrases like “he disappeared for months then texted like nothing happened”, “someone came back with no explanation”, “the word for reappearing after ghosting”.
Zombieing
- “someone who ghosted me came back like nothing happened”
- “my ex texted 'hey stranger' after disappearing for months”
- “the word for a ghoster who suddenly reappears”
- “why do people come back after ghosting you”
03 · Which came first
Which came first
In shortZombieing. mid-2010s — Emerges as a spin-off of 'ghosting' — when a ghost comes back from the dead, they become a zombie.
- mid-2010s
Zombieing. Emerges as a spin-off of 'ghosting' — when a ghost comes back from the dead, they become a zombie.
- 2017
Submarining. Coined in the UK press by writer Rebecca Reid and documented in US coverage the same year.
04 · The mix-up
Where the confusion comes from
The mix-up“Submarining and zombieing are the same thing.”
What's true
A zombie returns and acknowledges the absence, usually with an excuse. A submariner resurfaces with no acknowledgement at all — that missing explanation is the entire distinction.
05 · Read either one