XD is a laughing face, not a word. The X is a pair of eyes squeezed shut and the D is a wide-open grin, so it shows someone laughing hard. Wiktionary describes XD as an emoticon representing a face expressing hysterical laughter. You'll also see it written xD or xd. It means roughly the same as LOL or LMAO.
If you tilt your head to the left, XD turns into a little face: eyes scrunched up tight and a big laughing mouth. It's one of the classic text emoticons from before emojis took over, and it's still very much alive in gaming chats, fandoms and messages between friends. Here's what it means and how to use it.
XD is a picture, not an abbreviation
Most text slang stands for words. XD doesn't. Wiktionary explains it as X, for eyes squeezed shut, plus D, for a big smile. Put together, they make a face that's laughing so hard its eyes are closed. Wikipedia's disambiguation page sums it up as an emoticon commonly used to symbolise extreme laughter or happiness.
Because it's a picture, it isn't pronounced. People don't say 'ex-dee' in conversation, they just type it at the end of a funny message.
XD examples
Wiktionary's example shows the typical use perfectly: 'My friend tripped over a rock and hit his head XD'. It's a reaction to something funny, often slightly silly or embarrassing.
- 'I sent that to my boss instead of my sister XD' Laughing at your own mistake.
- 'The cat knocked the whole tree over XD' Reacting to a funny moment.
- 'Ok that meme got me XD' Saying something made you laugh.
- 'xD no way' A lighter, smaller laugh.
XD, xD and xd: is there a difference?
Wiktionary lists XD, xD, Xd and xd as alternative forms. There's no official difference, but many people read them slightly differently.
| Spelling | How it often reads |
|---|---|
| XD | Big laugh, eyes squeezed shut |
| xD | A smaller, gentler laugh |
| xd | Very casual, sometimes almost a shrug |
| XDDD | Laughing so hard it keeps going |
These are habits rather than rules, so don't overthink it. Any version means you found something funny.
XD compared with LOL, LMAO and emojis
Wiktionary notes that in Spanish, XD is often equivalent to English LOL or LMAO. In English chats it works the same way. The difference is mostly in style. LOL is a set of letters, XD is a little face, and emojis are pictures.
| Reaction | Type | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| lol | Abbreviation | Light amusement |
| XD | Text emoticon | Strong laughter |
| 😆 | Emoji: grinning squinting face | Very similar to XD |
| 😂 | Emoji: face with tears of joy | Laughing until you cry |
| 🤣 | Emoji: rolling on the floor laughing | Can't stop laughing |
Unicode's own name for 😆 is grinning squinting face, which is the emoji version of XD: the same squeezed eyes and open mouth. If you prefer a deadpan laugh, plenty of people now use the skull emoji instead. For the bigger picture, my list of the most popular emojis shows which reactions people reach for most.
Why XD is so popular outside English
Wiktionary has a usage note that XD is more popular in non-English-speaking countries than in English-speaking ones. In Spanish it even has spelled-out versions, such as equis de and ekisde, and Wiktionary records XD as a Spanish adjective meaning funny or humorous.
That's useful to know if you're in international group chats or gaming servers. A Spanish-speaking teammate typing 'xd' after a mistake is laughing it off, not being rude. It's a global language of its own.
XD in gaming chats
Gamers have used XD for years, often to laugh at a chaotic moment or a ridiculous fail. It's lighter than trash talk and friendlier than silence. You'll often see it alongside other gaming shorthand like GG at the end of a match.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Other meanings of XD
Outside of chat, XD can mean very different things, and Wikipedia's disambiguation page lists plenty.
- Adobe XD, a design and prototyping app whose name is short for Experience Design
- Disney XD, a television channel aimed at children
- Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, a 2005 game for the GameCube
- Experience design and mixed doubles, both listed by Wiktionary
- Ex dividend, a stock exchange abbreviation listed by Dictionary.com
- Car models such as the Scion xD and the Ford XD Falcon
If you see XD in a message about apps or design, it might be Adobe's product. At the end of a funny sentence, it's a laugh.
How to use XD without confusing anyone
A few habits help XD land the way you mean it. Put it at the end of the funny part, not in the middle of a serious message. Use it with people who'll recognise it, such as friends, gamers and online communities. And avoid it when someone's upset, because a laughing face next to bad news reads as mocking, even if you meant it kindly. If you're not sure the other person knows it, a laughing emoji like 😆 says the same thing in a way almost everyone understands.
Is XD old-fashioned?
It has a slightly retro feel to some people, because it dates from the era of text emoticons like 🙂 and :D. But it's far from gone. In fandoms, gaming and international chats it's still everywhere, and it has a charm that emojis don't quite match. Use it with friends, skip it at work, and you can't go wrong. It's also handy when you want to show you're laughing without using an emoji at all, for example in a plain-text forum or an older chat app that doesn't display emojis well.
Frequently asked questions
What does XD mean in text?
XD is a laughing face: X for eyes squeezed shut and D for a big grin, showing someone laughing hard.
Is XD the same as LOL?
They're used in similar ways. Wiktionary notes XD is often equivalent to LOL or LMAO.
How do you pronounce XD?
Usually you don't. It's an emoticon, so people just type it rather than say it.
What is the difference between XD and xD?
There's no official difference, but xD often reads as a gentler laugh than XD.
Which emoji is closest to XD?
The grinning squinting face 😆, which shows the same squeezed eyes and open mouth.
What else can XD mean?
Adobe XD, Disney XD, experience design, mixed doubles or ex dividend, depending on context.
