Before emojis became widely used to express emotions and experiences, people relied on emoticons made from keyboard characters to share their feelings online.
One of the most popular emoticons from the 2000s and early 2010s was XD.
If you’re seeing it now and aren’t sure what it means, you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s a breakdown of what XD represents and how to use it, along with some lesser-known meanings and interpretations.
Key Points You Should Know:
- XD expresses laughter, much like LOL (Laugh Out Loud) and is often used to respond to something humorous.
- It looks like a laughing face turned sideways, similar to the 😆 emoji.
- XD was especially popular in the 2000s and became iconic within emo subcultures.
What Does XD Mean in Texting?
In simple terms, XD represents laughter. Before today’s wide selection of emojis, internet users would use XD to signify a laughing face with squinting eyes, much like the 😆 emoji.
It’s similar to using LOL, hehe, or haha in a conversation to express something funny.
Example:
- I think I just saw my old teacher at the grocery store XD
- That’s hilarious! I can’t believe that happened XD
People also use slight variations, like xD or xd, but the meaning stays the same across different platforms and contexts.
Whether you’re on social media, email, or even gaming platforms like Roblox, XD typically serves to add a light-hearted touch to a message.
How to Use XD?
1. Show that something is funny
When you come across something amusing, you can use XD instead of an emoji to show your laughter or amusement.
Example:
- This video is the funniest thing I’ve seen all week XD
- That prank was genius! XD How did you pull it off?
2. Add humor or warmth to your message
If you want to make your message sound friendlier or more playful, toss in an XD at the end.
Example:
- Original message: Are you sure that’s how it works?
- Revised message: Are you sure that’s how it works? XD
How to Reply to XD?
There’s no strict rule for replying to XD. It all depends on the context and your own style of responding. You can use another cheerful emoticon, emoji, or even XD itself.
Example:
- Them: How do you manage to work such long shifts? XD
- You: I guess I’m just built for it 😂
Other Possible Meanings for XD
1. I Love You
Within emo subculture, XD paired with Rawr became a way to jokingly say I love you, as seen in the phrase Rawr XD.
This became a meme and is now mostly used ironically.
Example:
- Person 1: Rawr XD
- Person 2: Please don’t XD
2. Extreme Digital
In movie theaters, specifically Cinemark, XD refers to an Extreme Digital experience, offering enhanced visuals and sound for a more immersive viewing experience.
Example:
- We’re seeing the movie in XD, right?
3. Kissed
Though rare, some people might use XD as shorthand for kissed, referencing the X in kisses.
However, this use has largely been replaced by kiss-related emojis.
Example:
- I totally XD him last night
