「LOL」曾经可能表示「lots of love」，但现在一般是指「Laugh Out Loud」，含义根据上下文可能是高兴/附和的「大笑」，也可能是嘲讽的「笑死我了」（或者是自嘲）等。如果程度更深，还有人用「lololol」、「Looooool」以及「Lolllllll」等。
除了作为一个单独的词组外，网上聊天还可能会把 LOL 用作一个动词。示例：
- I LOLed so much when I watched the movie.
- Check out this meme lol.
- Did you see that funny cat video that my best friend sent me? Lol.
- This physics assignment is so fun, lol.
- OMG, I just failed my driving test for the third time, lol.
- You want to have children next year? Lol
- I had to give a presentation to my old high school last week and I tripped while making my way on stage, lol.
- 「That video you sent was hilarious!」「LOL I know! I watched it like 20 times ??」
与之类似的缩写还有 LMAO、LMFAO 等。还有些人用「KEK」—— 这是「LOL」的韩语翻译，同样的意思。
