What XD Really Means in the Digital World

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A deep dive into the meaning, history, and other uses of this emoticon

Co-authored by Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: May 29, 2023 Fact Checked

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Overview

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How to Use

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How to Reply

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Alternate Meanings

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Tips

Way back before emojis were created to represent every emotion and experience under the sun, netizens used emoticons (combos of keyboard letters and symbols) to share their thoughts and feelings online. Back in the 2000s and early 2010s, “XD” was one of the most popular emoticons out there, but if you’re stumbling across it now, you might not know what these two expressive letters represent. You’ve come to the right article. Read on to learn exactly what XD means, as well as how to use and respond to it (along with some its lesser-known meanings and acronyms).

Things You Should Know

XD means the same thing as LOL (Laugh Out Loud), and is used to share or respond to something funny.
The emoticon resembles a laughing face that’s spun 90 degrees to the left, similar to 😆 (grinning squinting face emoji).
XD was most popular in the 2000s and early 2010s, and became a meme thanks to its use in emo subculture.

Section 1 of 4:

What does “xd” mean in texting?

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XD is an older emoticon that means “laughing out loud.”Nowadays, we tap on emojis like 😂 (face with tears of joy emoji), 😆 (grinning squinting face emoji), and 🤣 (rolling on the floor laughing emoji) when we find something funny or are trying to lighten the mood. Back in the 2000s, though, this wide selection of emojis was nonexistent—so, netizens would improvise by sending an XD emoticon that resembled a laughing face with squinting eyes rotated to the left, like the 😆 (grinning squinting face emoji). Think of it like as a digital synonym for slang like LOL, hehe, and haha.^{[1]
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- “I think I passed my first grade teacher in Walmart XD”
- “That’s so funny!! I still can’t believe you did that XD”
- Some netizens choose to use variations of the emoticon, like xD or xd. Both of these still mean the same thing!
- Did you know? XD means the same thing across all digital platforms. In most cases, XD is just another way to add a light-hearted vibe to a message, whether it’s over email, text, or social media. It even means the same thing on gaming platforms like Roblox—users use XD as a way to react to something funny.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Use XD

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Express how funny something is with XD. Find a hilarious meme online, or can’t contain your laughter in the middle of a digital convo? Use XD to show just how tickled you are (without even having to touch your emoji keyboard).
- “This is the best thing I’ve seen all week XD”
- “This is amazing XD how did you pull off that prank without your brother noticing???”
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Add a friendly, humorous touch to your message. Emojis and emoticons definitely aren’t for everyone, but some people like to add an extra “oomph” of friendliness and cheer to their messages. If you’re worried that message might come across as a bit stale or cold, add an XD into the mix to the let the other person know that everything is good.
- Old message: “Are you sure that’s the right way to do it?”
  New message: “Are you sure that’s the right way to do it? XD”

Section 3 of 4:

How to Reply to XD

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Reply with a cheerful emoji or emoticon if the convo calls for it. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to replying to messages with XD in them—it really depends on what was sent originally (and if you feel like replying in the first place). Feel free to drop an LOL, XD, or other cheerful emoji in response, or reply in whatever way feels most comfortable and authentic to you.
- Them: “How can you stand working 12-hour shifts? I would be bouncing off the walls XD”
  You: “I’m just built different I guess 😂”
- Them: “Are you still bringing some of your mom’s guac to my party tomorrow? XD”
  You: “I know you’d give me the silent treatment if I didn’t. XD”

Section 4 of 4:

Alternate Meanings

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I Love YouXD really planted its roots in the emo community in 2004 when a digital artist posted a cartoon dinosaur named OMG RAWR XD” and captioned it with “Rawr! It means “I love you!” in dinosaur.” This lingo became especially prominent within meme culture in the mid-2010s, when social media users began roasting “Rawr XD” as cringy way that emo individuals said “I love you” (based on stereotypes).^{[3]
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- Person 1: “Rawr XD”
  Person 2: “You did not just send me that LOL”
- This meaning of the emoticon is more ironic than anything else. If someone says “Rawr XD” in this day and age, they’re probably referencing this meme.
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Extreme DigitalMovie theater company Cinemark has “XD theaters” that create an extremely high-definition and immersive experience for movie-goers. Cinemark XD theaters offer features like 35 trillion on-screen colors, 50,000 watts of audio, and a giant screen that’s as tall as a 6-story building.^{[4]
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- “We’re seeing the movie in XD, right?”
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KissedOn rare occasions, someone might send XD as a way of saying “kissed,” based on the age-old abbreviation of Xs and Os symbolizing kisses and hugs, respectively.^{[5]
X
Research source} Nowadays, though, people are much likely to just send a 😘 (face blowing a kiss emoji), 💋 (kiss mark emoji), 😗 (kissing face emoji), and 💏 (kiss emoji) if they’re trying to share any kiss-worthy sentiments.
- “I totally XD him last night”
- XD also rarely stands for “crossed,” with X representing the cross and “D” representing the “ed” ending of the word.

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Tips

On very rare occasions, XD might be used as an acronym for phrases like Extreme Duty, Executive Development, Christmas Day, and Ex-dividend. Nine times out of 10, though, XD is likely being used to lighten the mood or say LOL.

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