a means to an end
noun phrase
: something done only to produce a desired result
Computers have always been a means to an end for [George] Lucas: telling stories.—
David A. Kaplan
David A. KaplanExamples of a means to an end in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But, as fans of the book know and viewers of the film eventually learn, Nina's behavior is all a means to an end.
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Dec. 2025
Adjusting interest rate targets is a means to an end.
—Alexander William Salter, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2025
Alternatively, the heat is a means to an end, either stoking our immune system to work better, or simply a regrettable, but unavoidable byproduct of fighting off an infection.
—NPR, 27 Nov. 2025
But much like the women in refrigerators trope, these interactions are used as a means to an end, not as a defining moment.
—Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a means to an end
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Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Dec. 2025
Adjusting interest rate targets is a means to an end.
—Alexander William Salter, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2025
Alternatively, the heat is a means to an end, either stoking our immune system to work better, or simply a regrettable, but unavoidable byproduct of fighting off an infection.
—NPR, 27 Nov. 2025
But much like the women in refrigerators trope, these interactions are used as a means to an end, not as a defining moment.
—Emma Flint, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a means to an end
Cite this Entry
“A means to an end.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20means%20to%20an%20end. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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