meant to (be/do something)
idiom
1
: intended to (do or be something)
I was never meant to teach.
They knew as soon as they met that they were meant to be together.
I thought we could be friends, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
2
British
: supposed to (be or do something)
The buses are meant to arrive every 15 minutes.
Brighton is meant to be very beautiful at this time of year.
Examples of meant to (be/do something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Salty and tangy on the palate, it’s meant to complement seafood with lots of lemon and capers.
—
Laura Ness, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
The inclusion of China’s Minister of Public Security in the Geneva talks was meant to signal seriousness.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 13 May 2025
There has been no early season 5 renewal of The Bear, but the showrunner has commented that the series isn’t meant to run forever, and five total seasons is a pretty common estimate.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
But holding a special election for an interim seat meant to last only eight months raises questions about cost and practicality.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for meant to (be/do something)
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Laura Ness, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
The inclusion of China’s Minister of Public Security in the Geneva talks was meant to signal seriousness.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 13 May 2025
There has been no early season 5 renewal of The Bear, but the showrunner has commented that the series isn’t meant to run forever, and five total seasons is a pretty common estimate.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
But holding a special election for an interim seat meant to last only eight months raises questions about cost and practicality.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for meant to (be/do something)
Cite this Entry
“Meant to (be/do something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meant%20to%20%28be%2Fdo%20something%29. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share