1. acronym for "i reaLy can't think Of anything eLse to say", often used in online forums and
chat.
2. acronym for "Laughing Out Loud", also used in online forums and
chat (archaic).
Intention is signalled by how it is written:
a. lol = yeah, I'm bored
b. lol... = this is
awkward...
c. lol! = that's amusing
d. LOL = that's very amusing; but I still didn't laugh
e. LOL! = not only was that amusing, but I might have actually LAUGHED OUT LOUD
The term has generally been replacd with "haha" to indicate that you found it amusing, as "lol" is often seen as dismissive.