It's original definition was "Laughing out loud" (also written occasionally as "Lots of Laughs"), used as a brief acronym to denote great amusement in chat conversations.
Now, it is overused to the point where nobody laughs out loud when they say it. In fact, they probably don't even give a shit about what you just wrote. More accurately, the acronym "lol" should be redefined as "Lack of laughter."
Depending on the chatter, its definition may vary. The list of its meanings includes, but is not limited to:
1) "I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this conversation."
2) "I'm too lazy to read what you just wrote so I'm typing something useless in hopes that you'll think I'm still paying attention."
3) "Your statement lacks even the vaguest trace of humor but I'll pretend I'm amused."
4) "This is a pointless acronym I'm sticking in my sentence just because it's become so engraved into my mind that when chatting, I MUST use the meaningless sentence-filler 'lol.'"
See: lmao, lmfao, rofl, lawl, heh, haha, lolol, and 120 for similarities.
Now, it is overused to the point where nobody laughs out loud when they say it. In fact, they probably don't even give a shit about what you just wrote. More accurately, the acronym "lol" should be redefined as "Lack of laughter."
Depending on the chatter, its definition may vary. The list of its meanings includes, but is not limited to:
1) "I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this conversation."
2) "I'm too lazy to read what you just wrote so I'm typing something useless in hopes that you'll think I'm still paying attention."
3) "Your statement lacks even the vaguest trace of humor but I'll pretend I'm amused."
4) "This is a pointless acronym I'm sticking in my sentence just because it's become so engraved into my mind that when chatting, I MUST use the meaningless sentence-filler 'lol.'"
See: lmao, lmfao, rofl, lawl, heh, haha, lolol, and 120 for similarities.
Statement: Sorry if I'm not too cheery, my best friend just died yesterday.
Worthless Reply: lol
Statement: The golden ratio is truely an intersting aspect of not only mathematics, but art as well.
Worthless Reply: lol
Statement: ... And then he says, "Your mom goes to college!"
Worthless Reply: lol
Statement: Hey, are you doing anything tonight? You could come over to my house and play some Unreal Tournie...
Worthless Reply: lol, ok
Worthless Reply: lol
Statement: The golden ratio is truely an intersting aspect of not only mathematics, but art as well.
Worthless Reply: lol
Statement: ... And then he says, "Your mom goes to college!"
Worthless Reply: lol
Statement: Hey, are you doing anything tonight? You could come over to my house and play some Unreal Tournie...
Worthless Reply: lol, ok
by no_one_2000 August 11, 2005
by dyhtgrew April 26, 2017
used to make something sound less serious or more of a joke even if it's not. similarly used: haha, lmao, lmfao
by condombanana October 19, 2020
Originally meant "laughing out loud" but is now so overused that it now means "I find that vaguely amusing" also a filler word now when there is a puse in the conversation or the person is lost for a response, or they are too stupid or lazy to think of one.
by philanthropic arsonist November 15, 2005
It stands for "laughing out loud." A slight irony to this definition is that generally people don't literally laugh out loud. That's reserved for other acronyms such as, but not limited to, LMMFAO, LMAO, ROTFLMAO, etc. Lol is most commonly used as a slience breaker, a reply to a joke that is SUPPOSED to be funny but really isn't, or an answer to an uncomfortable or random statement that one couldn't think of a better response to.
Example 1:
Person 1: Hi
Person 2: Hey
Person 1: umm..
Person 2: uh.....
Person 1: lol
Example 2:
Person 1: I like to pick my nose and then massage the boogers on my anal orifice
Person 2: lol
Example 3:
Person 1: I got fired from my job today, got dumped, contracted HIV, lost an eye, got caught masturbating in the elementary school parking lot then shot the cop who tried to arrest me
Person 2: lol
Person 1: Hi
Person 2: Hey
Person 1: umm..
Person 2: uh.....
Person 1: lol
Example 2:
Person 1: I like to pick my nose and then massage the boogers on my anal orifice
Person 2: lol
Example 3:
Person 1: I got fired from my job today, got dumped, contracted HIV, lost an eye, got caught masturbating in the elementary school parking lot then shot the cop who tried to arrest me
Person 2: lol
by EXPLIZIT October 10, 2005
lol - originally meant "laughing out loud", but now is the most common expression in any text conversation, just used instead of HAHA or any giggle or something like that. Also used all the time when there's nothing else to say... LOL key should be added to a standard keyboard.
by lol dude February 23, 2005
Originally defined to mean "laugh out loud" but is now so overused that no one is actually laughing when they type it. It is just something that people say when they have nothing else left to say. Often the words "hahaha" are substituted for it to give variety. People also type emoticons such as: ":" to also fill in the space when they get tired of "laughing out loud" or not "laughing out loud". It is the most used word when texting, and one of the easiest to type in order to send a message to someone so that you don't look like your blowing them off.
Person 1: "Hey man, what's up?"
Person 2: "Not much, what about you?"
Person 1: "Yeah same here."
~~~~~silence~~~~~~
Person 2: "lol"
Person 1: "haha :"
Person 2: "lol"
Person 2: "Not much, what about you?"
Person 1: "Yeah same here."
~~~~~silence~~~~~~
Person 2: "lol"
Person 1: "haha :"
Person 2: "lol"
by nololbby February 9, 2009