LOL is the original “I find this funny” acronym, in use since the early 1990s on IRC and Usenet. It exploded with SMS and AIM and has been the default chat-laughter marker ever since.
Today, LOL has softened. It’s used less as a literal “I’m laughing” claim and more as a tone marker that says “this isn’t serious”. “Can’t make it tonight lol” doesn’t mean anything is actually funny.
Stronger laughter sits on a ladder above it: LOL < LMAO < LMFAO. Gen Z increasingly skip LOL for “lmao”, “dying”, “💀” or just “haha”.
Examples
How LOL reads in the wild.
- “forgot we had a meeting at 9, sorry lol”
- “the dog ate the receipt lol”
Where you’ll see it
Common questions
What does LOL mean?
LOL stands for "Laughing Out Loud". Short for “laughing out loud” — the original internet acronym for amusement.
How is LOL used?
LOL is the original “I find this funny” acronym, in use since the early 1990s on IRC and Usenet. It exploded with SMS and AIM and has been the default chat-laughter marker ever since. Today, LOL has softened. It’s used less as a literal “I’m laughing” claim and more as a tone marker that says “this isn’t serious”. “Can’t make it tonight lol” doesn’t mean anything is actually funny. Stronger laughter sits on a ladder above it: LOL < LMAO < LMFAO. Gen Z increasingly skip LOL for “lmao”, “dying”, “💀” or just “haha”.
Where will I see LOL?
LOL is commonly used on Everywhere.