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
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
In the caption of her recent Instagram Reel shared on Monday, June 1, after Swim Week concluded, the reality star reflected on the meaning of her accomplishments.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 3 June 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
Ayren Jackson-Cannady, SELF, 29 May 2026
The Argentine writer’s short story, first published in 1941, imagines an infinite archive of books in which the alphabet has been configured into every possible combination, resulting in a limitless array of texts meaning everything and nothing.
—Raphael Helfand, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Noun
Without understanding the meaning and function of animal vocalizations, two-way communication would be impossible.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
In the caption of her recent Instagram Reel shared on Monday, June 1, after Swim Week concluded, the reality star reflected on the meaning of her accomplishments.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 3 June 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
Her results came back as estrogen receptor-positive stage 2A breast cancer, meaning her cancer had estrogen receptors that would respond to hormone therapy drugs.
—Ayren Jackson-Cannady, SELF, 29 May 2026
The Argentine writer’s short story, first published in 1941, imagines an infinite archive of books in which the alphabet has been configured into every possible combination, resulting in a limitless array of texts meaning everything and nothing.
—Raphael Helfand, Pitchfork, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
Noun
-
Strategic shakeup Usually buying and selling is a cop out, but with where the Red Sox are in their competitive cycle the approach might make some sense.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Goins said the turnout Saturday reflected a sense of unity and hoped the protest would serve as a path forward for change and empowering communities of color, especially.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
My novel is about that sea-change and the search for purpose.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
While there is nothing particularly Jordanian about the design, the interiors serve multiple purposes for visiting business travelers and tourists.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
And what made the clip even more jarring to the average eye is that Sweeney was in a suggestive pose at the time.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
-
Which seems a suggestive concept.—
Nick Newman,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Megaly is a medical suffix denoting an abnormal or irregular enlargement of an organ or body part.—
Scott Lafee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
The statistical evidence supports this when looking at the standard deviation — denoting the spread of a dataset — of points after 37 games across the past seven seasons.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
State and local governments trying to strike a balance between looking forward and securing jobs in construction while weighing constituents' concerns about energy, infrastructure, environmental and labor impacts.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
Mitchell said families weighing private versus public schools aren’t driven by a single reason; their decisions tend to be personal and specific to each child’s needs.—
Chase Jordan
June 4,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
In addition, the group is planning to bury a time capsule to be opened on America's 500th birthday in 2276.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
In May 2020, AMC struck a deal for an undisclosed amount of money, gaining control of both properties and planning an interconnected suite of shows under the Immortal Universe title.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Current pricing is indicating virtually no chance of cuts anytime through at least 2027.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
An appeals court found that there was no evidence indicating Carroll personally secured the outside funding.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The strikes have also targeted regions with biblical significance, threatening historical and archaeological sites.—
Alayna Treene,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
The president has pressured the Fed to cut rates, while Warsh has recently downplayed the significance and accuracy of the PCE gauge.—
D. Brian Blank,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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