How to Respond to a Thumbs Up Emoji

Consider this emoji your back pocket reaction to everything

Co-authored by John Keegan and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: June 24, 2025 Fact Checked

Someone texted you a thumbs up emoji, and now you’re second-guessing what they actually mean by it. Is the thumbs up emoji just an innocent way of saying “OK,” or is it actually passive-aggressive or rude? To help you get to the bottom of things, we’ve put together a list of all the different possible meanings of the thumbs up emoji so you can figure out the best way to respond.

What does the thumbs-up emoji mean?

Generally, the thumbs-up emoji is a short way of saying “Okay.” It’s a fun way to signify that you’re giving your approval. You can respond to it by sending another 👍. You can also respond with positive affirmations, like “Okay, great!” “Awesome!” or leave the text alone to end the conversation on a high note.

1

The thumbs up emoji usually just means “OK.”

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A response is not needed in this context. The person you’re texting is giving you their approval, so take it and leave it! Their 👍 is most likely a good sign and they are just agreeing with what you’re saying.^{[1]
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- Say you asked a friend if they wanted to meet for lunch. Your friend may say “yes” by sending you a 👍 .

2

It might mean “Got it!”

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Respond back with “Awesome” or don’t respond at all. They’re letting you know that they got your text and all’s well! The 👍 in this context is a form of approval and recognition.^{[2]
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- Let’s say you’re texting a friend about the homework that’s due tomorrow. Your friend may ask you if you have a copy of the assignment, and when you send it, they might send you the 👍 to let you know they got it.

3

It could be their way of saying “Thanks!”

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Leave the text alone to let the conversation end on a high note. This use of the 👍 most likely means the text conversation is over—in a good way! The sender is thanking you for something, whether it be a picture or a thoughtful response. Either way, there’s no need to respond back as this is their way of letting you know they’re grateful.^{[3]
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- Maybe a friend reaches out to ask you if you have a picture you took of them. You may say, “Sure thing!” and send the picture their way. By replying with a 👍, your friend is thanking you for sending the picture.

4

It could mean “I agree.”

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React with a simple 😊 back. They’re letting you know that they approve of what you’re saying. Maybe they react to a text you sent by hitting that like or thumbs up button, or they send a separate 👍. Either way, they agree with you!^{[4]
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- Perhaps you’re in a group chat and there’s a heavy debate going on about whether pancakes or waffles are superior. When you state your opinion, one of your friends might send a 👍 to let you know they stand on your side.

5

It might be them saying “Whatever.”

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In this case, you could send them an 🙄 in return. A thumbs up emoji can actually be passive-aggressive in certain contexts. If you’re texting someone and expecting a thoughtful reply or a detailed response and they send you a 👍 instead, they might be annoyed.^{[5]
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- Let’s say you come home to a dirty apartment, even though you asked your roommate to clean up their mess. You text them asking them to please be more mindful of keeping the space clean, and all you get back from them is a 👍. In this case, they might be annoyed and sending a 👍 as a passive-aggressive way of letting you know it.

6

It could be them saying “I approve.”

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Respond back with an excited “Thank you!” The 👍 can be used as a gesture for approval, and the sender is letting you know they approve of whatever you’re doing. You can let the conversation fade after your thanks, or keep it going if you have more to tell them.^{[6]
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- Maybe you’re redecorating your living room and are sending pictures to your partner while they’re out. You just moved the couch and want to get their approval before you move to the next step. You snap a picture of its new location and send it their way. They reply with a simple 👍 to let you know they like the new placement.

7

It might be them telling you “Cool!”

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Send them a 😀 to share the excitement. A 👍 can mean a rushed nod of approval. If someone doesn’t have enough time to express how awesome something you sent them is, they may reply with a quick emoji until they can type a text.^{[7]
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- Perhaps you’re an artist working on your latest sketch. You want to get your friend’s opinion but know they’re busy. By sending you a 👍 in response to a picture of your art, your friend is letting you know they think it’s epic but don’t have time to type you a long text back.

8

It could possibly be them telling you to “Get lost.”

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Dip out of the text conversation in response. Two 👍s can be used as a way to tell you to go away—a passive-aggressive reply to whatever you sent. Maybe you’re in an argument with a friend or are trying to win over a sour colleague. Either way, they are upset and have sent you the emoji to tell you they just want to be alone.^{[8]
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- Emoticons are all up to interpretation, which is why they are so fun to use but can also lead to misunderstandings. If you’re in a heated discussion with someone and they send you a 👍, maybe leave the text thread to avoid hostility.

9

It can also be them saying “Good job!”

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Let the sender know you appreciate them with a “Thank you!” They’re letting you know that they think you’re doing a great job, so take the encouragement and keep doing you! Thank them for their reply by responding with “Thanks” or a 😄.^{[9]
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- If you’re telling your friend about a recent achievement and they send you a 👍, they are congratulating you!

10

It might be their way of giving you the “Green light.”

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Let them know when you’ll get started with the task. A 👍 is a universal sign of approval, so it can be used to give you the “A-okay” to get started on a project. They are giving you the go-ahead by sending you a 👍. You can either respond with more details or not reply at all.^{[10]
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- Maybe you’re texting a coworker and asking them if they are ready to move on to the next stage in a project. If they text you a 👍, it means they are ready for you to get working!

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