LOL stands for "laugh out loud." It is the oldest and most famous text abbreviation. It dates back to the 1980s. It is used to express laughter. It is a reaction. It is a comment. It is used in texting, online chat, and social media. It is casual. It is universal.

LOL is not always sincere. Sometimes it is used to acknowledge a joke without laughing. Sometimes it is used to fill space. But most of the time, it is honest. It says, "I found that funny." It is a small gift. It is a small laugh.

Related abbreviations

• LMAO: laughing my ass off, stronger.
• ROFL: rolling on the floor laughing, stronger.
• KEKW: a Twitch emote, visual.
• Hehe: a small laugh.

LOL has become a word in its own right. People say it out loud. "That's funny, lol." It is a verbal tic. It is a marker of tone. It says, "I am joking" or "I am not angry." It is a small word. It is a big part of the internet. It is not going anywhere.