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
Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
To an untrained eye the dishes look similar, but the families highlighted the distinct ingredients, preparation techniques and meanings behind each one.
—Andres Bustamante, The Conversation, 11 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
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
Those restrictions likely ended once he was deposed, meaning that commercial kilns produced many more ceramics featuring this motif, much of which was exported, Flecker said.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Noun
The film is being released as newsrooms shrink, the mainstream media consolidates and social media manipulates the meaning of truth.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 12 Mar. 2026
To an untrained eye the dishes look similar, but the families highlighted the distinct ingredients, preparation techniques and meanings behind each one.
—Andres Bustamante, The Conversation, 11 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
The Flyers played in Philadelphia on Thursday night, meaning that Brink will likely be flying cross-country to join the Wild for Friday night’s game at Vegas.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
Those restrictions likely ended once he was deposed, meaning that commercial kilns produced many more ceramics featuring this motif, much of which was exported, Flecker said.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
Noun
-
The small, walkable village of Tubac is the ideal destination for a day trip or weekend getaway, one with dozens of unique galleries that embrace a sense of place in the Sonoran Desert.—
Molly Allen,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But there was something profound about the sense of connection and engagement that all kinds of writing gave him.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For anyone building a compact, efficient toolkit, the hori hori knife eliminates the need for several single-purpose gadgets.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The military’s purpose is national defense, not managing domestic dissent.—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 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
-
Without a letter denoting a political party next to their name on the ballot, independent candidates have historically gotten lost in the mix.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
On an easel, a map of the Middle East, with American flag pins denoting US military positions.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Heavy thickening products can backfire by weighing strands down and making hair appear flatter.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The question weighing over this year's critical midterm elections is whether the president's backing is a help or hindrance.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For many travelers, the process of planning their trips is a grueling slog through endless price comparisons and messy browser tabs.—
Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Rockridge has long been among Oakland’s most idyllic and priciest areas, exactly the kind of neighborhood that is often resistant to the taller, more populous density housing the city is now planning for it.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trouvelot cuts into this degraded crater, indicating that the neighboring basin formed first.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Within 24 hours of the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran, ships in the region’s waters found their navigation systems had gone haywire, erroneously indicating that the vessels were at airports, a nuclear power plant and on Iranian land.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lyon emphasized the significance of body composition in conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia and mild cognitive impairment.—
Sandra Rose Salathe,
Flow Space,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The findings will need to be confirmed and the vaccine approach tested in other animals, including humans, before its true significance is clear.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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