1
as in sense
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action
the unmistakable meaning of the skier's upraised arms as he finished his spectacular run
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in purpose
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
the people have a right to know what the president's meaning is in getting the nation involved in this war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in suggestive
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood)
gave me a meaning look after I said that
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in denoting
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
the national anthem means various things to various people
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in weighing
to be of importance
your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in planning
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I mean to win this race
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in indicating
to serve as a sign or symptom of
these colder nights mean autumn has truly arrived
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of meaning
Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
But by pairing it with domain expertise in archaeology and a creative research question, the team repurposed the technology to extract meaning from an object that had resisted interpretation.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
For Robell Awake, the chair is a meaning-laden object, symbolic of rest, a stand-in for the human body, a reflection of historical power dynamics.
—Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Nevertheless, the budget committee voted for an extra 1% cut this fiscal year and 2% in the year starting July 1 — meaning up to 5% total cuts.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Noun
That's why, in Perlman's view, what really differentiates humans is a wide-ranging capacity to generate novel symbols that communicate meaning—to basically play charades—in all kinds of ways.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
But by pairing it with domain expertise in archaeology and a creative research question, the team repurposed the technology to extract meaning from an object that had resisted interpretation.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
To see you as a newborn child and then to look at you and to know that every step along the way, to witness that journey, is the most meaning aspect of my life.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
For Robell Awake, the chair is a meaning-laden object, symbolic of rest, a stand-in for the human body, a reflection of historical power dynamics.
—Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
But the Michael Reese tract currently is vacant, meaning taxes paid to the city are immaterial.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Nevertheless, the budget committee voted for an extra 1% cut this fiscal year and 2% in the year starting July 1 — meaning up to 5% total cuts.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
Noun
-
Much of the crowd has–or knows someone who has, contributed to the sense of community that permeates the space.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
As a three-term Mecklenburg County commissioner, my daily concern is delivering common-sense solutions to our problems as efficiently as possible to keep the tax rate low.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Soldiers from the Multi-purpose Company, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division operated the aircraft during the drill.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The real purpose of the campaign was to draw attention to the violation of Japanese Americans’ Constitutional rights.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Wasserman rode on Epstein’s plane and exchanged suggestive messages with Maxwell, the files the DOJ released show.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
More disturbingly, some MAGA cultural warriors claimed to be disgusted by Bad Bunny’s suggestive dancing and called for his censorship, harking back to the 1950s, when emerging superstar Elvis Presley was shot by TV cameras from the waist up during his appearance at the Ed Sullivan show.—
Ediberto Roman,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Outstanding Chef is a national category, denoting a chef who has set high standards to the broader culinary culture.—
Brock Keeling,
Daily News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
WalletHub graded 18 metrics on a 100-point scale, with 100 denoting the most favorable conditions for a Thanksgiving celebration, per the study.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At the Degemar quarries, drilled down to 30 meters (yards) under sea level, bright blue ponds of sulfur springs pool the travertine residue as flat-bed trucks haul stone slabs weighing 33 tons up to street level.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
During the fueling test, engineers will study the effectiveness of the repairs, with NASA officials weighing the overall readiness of the rocket and its various systems.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Over the next few years, Connecticut Water is planning 26 projects around the state targeting PFAS filtration to meet the new EPA regulations by the 2029 deadline.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Be sure to check out our guide to checking the safety of eclipse glasses, along with our top 10 tips for planning your 2026 solar eclipse trip.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The motion sought to dismiss the charges with prejudice, indicating they cannot be refiled.—
Nicole Acevedo,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
On May 14, 2025, CBP investigators received information from a law enforcement database indicating that Garcia-Vallejo was Wilkinson’s niece, the complaint states.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In 2021, the global significance of tatreez was recognized by UNESCO, when it was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a safeguarding measure to ensure its preservation.—
Zoe Whitfield,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
-
February marks Black History Month, a time to examine historic monuments in Dallas that still hold significance for the city's African-American community.—
Uwa Ede-Osifo,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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