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
Lea Barbett, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Even the left has grown disillusioned with such gestures’ meaning.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 25 Mar. 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
Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The court dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning X cannot refile the same claim.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Noun
This was true not just for feeling satisfied with life but also for deeper aspects of flourishing, such as having a sense of direction and meaning.
—Lea Barbett, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
Even the left has grown disillusioned with such gestures’ meaning.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 25 Mar. 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
However, many Latin American economies have become deeply integrated with China’s, meaning any pivot away could be costly and take years.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The court dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning X cannot refile the same claim.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
Noun
-
A little bit of that football mindset in the sense of you just got to go 1-0 that day.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
-
It is celebrated with a ceremonious parade that features a cavalcade of men dressed in Roman soldier costumes, evoking a sense of solemn thanksgiving and spiritual devotion.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The robotic characters break free from their restaurant resting place to cause chaos in town, while the villainous Marionette pops up to possess victims for her own nefarious purposes.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Trump has not only stolen top-secret government files, apparently for business purposes but used his office to harass and investigate his political targets.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For now, however, the evidence remains suggestive rather than definitive.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The twenty-four-hour temperature forecast is shown as a fluctuating black line tagged with icons denoting the weather every three hours.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Rather than civic numbers, houses here are often identified by their color, position, or ceramic tiles denoting the family’s name.—
Kristina Kasparian,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Many thickening conditioners rely on silicones or heavy coatings to create the illusion of fullness, which can backfire over time by weighing hair down further.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
After weighing less than 200 pounds because of gastritis, Simpson weighed 211 pounds at the combine and has been completely healthy during the pre-draft process.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After suffering a brutal knockout at UFC Seattle, Maycee Barber is already planning her comeback.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Browne’s family is planning an event honoring him in mid-May.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With another piece of paper indicating her pregnancy was not ectopic, though, Hall had left the clinic thinking that concern didn’t apply to her.—
Emily Brindley
Health Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Israel has yet to publicly comment on the peace terms during the latest war of words, with reports indicating Israeli government had been blindsided with Washington's proposal.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
President of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos acknowledged the significance of that fact, saying there’s no one more deserving of that honor than Sale.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Its personal significance is trumpeted by the fact that Haghighi plays one of the two lead roles, a man named Kaveh who is being driven by a woman, Leila (Taraneh Alidoosti), to a remote, wintry mountain region.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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