Definition of mean
meant
play \ˈment\;meaning
play \ˈmē-niŋ\transitive verb
1a : to have in the mind as a purpose : intend she means to win —sometimes used interjectionally with I, chiefly in informal speech for emphasis he throws, I mean, hard or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrase we try to answer what we can, but I mean we're not God — Bobbie Ann Masonb : to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future I was meant to teach
2 : to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : signify a red sky means rain
3 : to have importance to the degree of health means everything
4 : to direct to a particular individual His criticism was meant for all of us.
intransitive verb
: to have an intended purpose he means well
mean business
: to be in earnest
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of mean in a Sentence
The season of backyard barbecues and lakeside cookouts is at hand, which in most parts of the country means an orgy of grilled steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs lasting until Labor Day and beyond. —R. W. Apple, Jr., New York Times, 5 June 2002
Even the water in the cave was free from surface contamination … which meant that all the water now in Lechugilla percolated into the cave before the widespread nuclear bomb testing of the 1940s … —Jon Krakauer, Air & Space, October/November 1995
Home meant my father, with kind eyes, songs, and tense recitations for my brother and myself. —Gwendolyn Brooks, Booklist, 15 Oct. 1993
The word meant one thing in Shakespeare's day, but it means something else now.
Red means “stop” and green means “go.”
Can you tell me what my dream means?
What was meant by the poet?
Don't distort what she meant by taking her words out of context.
He's very ambitious, and I mean that as a compliment.
It's a very easy question. Anyone, and I mean anyone, should be able to answer it.
She's not getting any thinner, if you know what I mean.
She says she didn't mean anything by what she did.
I don't trust him. He means no good.
Origin and Etymology of mean
Middle English menen, from Old English mǣnan; akin to Old High German meinen to have in mind, Old Church Slavonic měniti to mention
First Known Use: before 12th century
Definition of mean
2 : lacking in mental discrimination : dull
3a : of poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status mean city streetsb : worthy of little regard : contemptible —often used in negative constructions as a term of praise no mean feat
4 : lacking dignity or honor : base a mean motive
5a : penurious, stingy He's very mean with his money.b : characterized by petty selfishness or malice a mean surly manc : causing trouble or bother : vexatious a mean soil to workd : excellent, effective plays a mean trumpet a lean, mean athlete
6 : ashamed 1b His ready cooperation made me feel mean for what I had said.
Examples of mean in a Sentence
For thirty years he had been a ruthless litigator, the meanest, nastiest, and without a doubt one of the most effective courtroom brawlers in Chicago. —John Grisham, The Chamber, 1995
… the streets of Spanish Harlem are meaner than when he left them, and they're pulling him back in. —Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 1993
… what you discover is the one with the tail was old mean landlord Mr. prosperous Prospero who wielded without thought of God or man the merry old cat-o'-nine-tails … —Darryl Pinckney, Times Literary Supplement, 23 Aug. 1991
Creighton Abrams was a tanker, according to George Patton the meanest tanker the Germans had faced in the whole U.S. Third Army, and he had a temper that matched the fearsome machines he loved. —Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
Origin and Etymology of mean
Middle English mene, from imene common, shared, from Old English gemǣne; akin to Old High German gimeini common, Latin communis common, munus service, gift, Sanskrit mayate he exchanges
First Known Use: 14th century
Synonym Discussion of mean
Definition of mean
1 : occupying a middle position : intermediate in space, order, time, kind, or degree
2 : occupying a position about midway between extremes; especially : being the mean of a set of values : average the mean temperature
3 : serving as a means : intermediary
Origin and Etymology of mean
Middle English mene, from Anglo-French mene, meiene, from Latin medianus — more at median
First Known Use: 14th century
Synonym Discussion of mean
Definition of mean
1a (1) : something intervening or intermediate (2) : a middle point between extremesb : a value that lies within a range of values and is computed according to a prescribed law: such as (1) : arithmetic mean (2) : expected valuec : either of the middle two terms of a proportion
2 means plural in form but singular or plural in construction : something useful or helpful to a desired end
3 means plural : resources available for disposal; especially : material resources affording a secure life
by means of
: through the use of
by no means
: in no way : not at all
Examples of mean in a Sentence
Take all these temperatures and calculate their mean.
trying to find a golden mean between doing too little and doing too much
Origin and Etymology of mean
see 3mean
First Known Use: 14th century
MEAN Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of mean for English Language Learners
-
: to have (a particular meaning)
-
: to want or intend to express (a particular idea or meaning)
-
: to have (something) in your mind as a purpose or goal
Definition of mean for English Language Learners
-
: a middle point between two things
MEAN Defined for Kids
Definition of mean for Students
meant
\ˈment\;meaning
\ˈmē-niŋ\1 : to represent or have as a definite explanation or idea What does this word mean?
2 : to be an indication of Those clouds mean rain.
3 : to have in mind as a purpose He meant to be funny.
4 : to intend for a particular use It's a book meant for children.
5 : to have importance to His visit meant a lot to me.
Definition of mean for Students
1 : a middle point or something (as a place, time, number, or rate) that falls at or near a middle point : moderation
2 : arithmetic mean
3 means plural : something that helps a person to get what he or she wants Use every means you can think of to find it.
4 means plural : wealth 1 A person of means doesn't worry about money.
by all means
: certainly 1
by any means
: in any way I was not a good student by any means.
by means of
: through the use of
by no means
: certainly not
Learn More about mean
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mean Spanish Central: Translation of mean Nglish: Translation of mean for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mean for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mean
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up mean? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!