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
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
When everything is described in superlatives, scale begins to lose meaning.
—Atom Ariola, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 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
Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning there were no new cases reported for over 12 months.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Noun
Close is saddled with an overextended subplot as the film’s main human antagonist, who adds semi-stylish layers without much meaning.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
When everything is described in superlatives, scale begins to lose meaning.
—Atom Ariola, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 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
The announcement comes two months after Iranian drone strikes targeted three Amazon data centers in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain—meaning that full recovery from the cloud disruption could take nearly half a year in all.
—Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, meaning there were no new cases reported for over 12 months.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
Noun
-
Keep the conversation moving, and let flexibility strengthen your position and perspective while maintaining your sense of balance and fairness.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
While the work’s English title might indicate a sense of amusement or distraction, the Chinese title is an idiom that refers to being caught in a dilemma, like a boat that has left one shore but has not yet reached the other.—
Pauline J. Yao,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
This approach builds upon the original intent of the Donohoe Act, which began with positive goals but did not fully achieve its purpose.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
The city has banned an arm in common use for lawful purposes by law-abiding citizens.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Proofs are littered with suggestive ellipses.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Researchers also found highly suggestive evidence that eating more ultraprocessed foods raised the risk of obesity by 55%, sleep disorders by 41%, development of type 2 diabetes by 40% and the risk of depression by 20%.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The new jet also features 13 stars denoting the 13 original colonies on its fuselage, the main body of an aircraft, and a circle of stars on each engine cowling, or covering, reflecting the original Betsy Ross flag and an America250 decal on the nose and winglet.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But our understanding of pedantry, denoting the sticklerishness of academic specialists and grammar obsessives, is a relatively narrow one.—
Clare Bucknell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Missouri faces a legal battle over a referendum to redraw one key district even before weighing changes under the Supreme Court’s decision.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Atmos Rewards members can pack up to 12 bottles in a box or case weighing 50 pounds or less.—
Hali Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An hour before Hitchcock's execution, Texas is planning to put James Broadnax to death for the 2008 double murder of two Christian music producers in the Dallas suburb of Garland.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Countries across the Gulf have arrested scores of people during the war, on charges ranging from posting images of wartime damage, to planning terrorist attacks with Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) took particular exception to Vietnam being branded with a scarlet letter, indicating that an investigation could lead to higher footwear costs.—
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
Many of the Huayuan fossils look similar, if not identical, to those in the Burgess Shale, indicating that these marine ecosystems were connected by global ocean currents.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Totem poles, after all, marked sites of significance.—
Glenn Adamson,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Nearby, a group of friends dressed up for a different aspect of the day’s significance.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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