LOL is short for “laugh out loud,” and it’s one of the most common internet and texting acronyms you’ll see. People use it to show that something is funny—kind of like a quick, casual way to react to a joke, meme, or silly comment. Interestingly, it doesn’t always mean the person is literally laughing. In many cases, “LOL” just softens a message or makes it sound friendlier. For example, “That meeting was so long lol” might mean “I’m half-joking but also serious.” Over time, it’s evolved from being purely about humor to a general conversational tool, especially in casual chats.