In texting, “>>>” typically means “is really good” or “is better than (some alternative).” This usage stems from the mathematical symbol “>” which denotes “is greater than.” In mathematics, this symbol is used to show that one quantity is larger than another, for example, “5 > 3” means that 5 is greater than 3. People extended this concept to words and phrases to express preferences or opinions. For instance, one could write “Cats > Dogs” to indicate that they think cats are better than dogs.

Over time, people started using multiple greater-than signs (>>>) for emphasis. This adds extra weight to the statement, suggesting a stronger preference. So, if someone says “Cats >>> Dogs,” they are expressing that they like cats a lot more than dogs.

The symbol has evolved to the point where you don’t necessarily need to include the second item being compared. If someone writes “Cats >>>,” it implies that they think cats are really great or superior to other animals in general. It is a way to show enthusiastic approval or favoritism toward something.

This usage has expanded to include opinions about situations, habits, or even abstract concepts. For example, “skipping class to study >>>” might mean “I think skipping class to study is a really good idea,” and “iced coffee >>>” suggests a strong liking for iced coffee.

Interestingly, while “>>>” is widely used to show a strong preference or positive opinion, the opposite (using “<<>>” is seen merely as an arrow, stemming from a time before emojis when people used text symbols to create “emoticons.” In this context, “>>>” can be used to point toward something, much like an arrow emoji (➡️) would. This interpretation depends on the context and the person using it.

Overall, the primary usage of “>>>” in texting is to express a strong preference, comparison, or opinion, emphasizing the superiority or goodness of one thing over others.