_ (UNDERSCORE) MEANING

What Does _ (Underscore) Mean?

The Quick Answer

Confusion, Irritation or Thinking

In text-based chat, the underscore symbol is used with a number of different meanings. Usually, it indicates confusion or irritation on the part of the sender, but it could also show they are thinking of an appropriate response to something that has just been sent. For example:

• Toni: I told you that was going to happen.
• Jo: _. (Confused.)
• Jo: When?
• Toni: When you split with Sam.
• Jo: _. Irritated.)
• Jo: You said you would never bring that up again.
• Toni: You said you would never do it again. Now what are you going to do?
• Jo: _. (Thinking.)

In this conversation, Jo would appear to be a big fan of the underscore symbol, and Toni obviously knows Jo well enough to understand what he/she wants to say!

Emoticons

The underscore is also used in a number of emoticons (graphical representations of emotion), often to form part of a face. For example:

• ('_') = Boredom.
• *_* = Love.
• ._. = Apathy, disappointment, or resignation.
• ?_? = Confusion.
• @_@ = Astonishment.
• ^_^ = Contentment.
• -_- = Annoyance, boredom, or tiredness.
• >_< = Frustration.
• O_O = Confusion or shock.

While emoticons have become largely obsolete in many messaging applications, a few have persisted. Primarily, they're utilized by those who are considered "old school," though members of most generations sometimes use them. This might be because emoticons can often appear more personal or "cuter" than emojis. For a complete list of emoticons, check out our icons and emoticons page. Don't miss our interactive list of every emoji!

Image for underscore meaning

When I write _, I mean this:

The underscore is a popular, but sometimes confusing, emoticon.

Summary of Key Points for the First Definition

"Confusion," "Irritation," or "Thinking" are the most common definitions for _ on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

_meaning
Definition:	Confusion, Irritation, Thinking
Type:	Emoticon
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Summary of Key Points for the Second Definition

_ is also used in a number of common emoticons.

_meaning
Definition:	Emoticon
Type:	Emoticon
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at the Underscore Symbol

Example of _meaning Used in a Text

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