1
as in signifies
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
the national anthem means various things to various people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in matters
to be of importance
your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in intends
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I mean to win this race
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in measure
an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result
won the competition by fair and honest means
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in instrumentality
something used to achieve an end
the ends don't justify the means
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in wealth
the total of one's money and property
a woman of considerable means
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of means
Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The rooms Every room features floor-to-ceiling windows, and a collection of 30 suites means there is no shortage of room types, from city kings and doubles to skyline corner studio suites and one-bedroom suites.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026
That variability also means that there is more room to find ways to save.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026
That means an outside entity—known as Maxwell’s demon—could theoretically herd those molecules from one object to another preferentially, sorting the faster-moving molecules back to the hot object and the cooler ones to the cold object.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 21 Apr. 2026
This means Florida will almost certainly enter the 2026-27 season as the preseason number one team in the country when October rolls around.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
That means Warsh, and the White House, have a problem.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Whoever the fans vote as their top choice wins the challenge and immunity for next week, which means the fans decide the winner but the judges still decide the loser.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
Hurd said that means the North Carolina jury only had to decide whether the attack happened.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Will Clark, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Victims are stripped of their social networks, of their means, of their access to resources like finances.
—Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Although that would present a seemingly straightforward antitrust challenge, industry insiders who talked to Fortune’s Shawn Tully say the tie-up is by no means impossible.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Before imposing new fees on working families, leaders should have cut waste, pursued real efficiencies and lived within their means.
—Johnny Lee Dang, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Amid all their attacks and counter-attacks, what motivates each aggrieved party comes to light, painting a rich, empathetic portrait of lives lived under immense pressure — and the illogical outlets that sometimes become our only means of relief.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
That clear reference to a certain occupant of the White House and his political movement is by no means McKenzie’s most provocative statement on matters of urgent relevance.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Clark and Floyd had initially bonded over the show’s namesake app, a means for married people to meet discreet new partners; Floyd, too, had met up with potential paramours like Modern Love (Peter Sarsgaard), the online pseudonym of a local roller rink owner.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Just having Curry back and healthy means so much no matter the role — to the game on the court, yes, but also the mood and morale in the locker room.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
Energy means a lot in baseball.
—Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
The rooms Every room features floor-to-ceiling windows, and a collection of 30 suites means there is no shortage of room types, from city kings and doubles to skyline corner studio suites and one-bedroom suites.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026
That variability also means that there is more room to find ways to save.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 21 Apr. 2026
That means an outside entity—known as Maxwell’s demon—could theoretically herd those molecules from one object to another preferentially, sorting the faster-moving molecules back to the hot object and the cooler ones to the cold object.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 21 Apr. 2026
This means Florida will almost certainly enter the 2026-27 season as the preseason number one team in the country when October rolls around.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
That means Warsh, and the White House, have a problem.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Whoever the fans vote as their top choice wins the challenge and immunity for next week, which means the fans decide the winner but the judges still decide the loser.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
Hurd said that means the North Carolina jury only had to decide whether the attack happened.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
Beijing calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, Xi was cited as saying by Xinhua, while supporting all efforts conducive to restoring peace and remaining committed to resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means.
—Will Clark, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026
Victims are stripped of their social networks, of their means, of their access to resources like finances.
—Elliot Mann, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
Although that would present a seemingly straightforward antitrust challenge, industry insiders who talked to Fortune’s Shawn Tully say the tie-up is by no means impossible.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 17 Apr. 2026
Before imposing new fees on working families, leaders should have cut waste, pursued real efficiencies and lived within their means.
—Johnny Lee Dang, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Amid all their attacks and counter-attacks, what motivates each aggrieved party comes to light, painting a rich, empathetic portrait of lives lived under immense pressure — and the illogical outlets that sometimes become our only means of relief.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
That clear reference to a certain occupant of the White House and his political movement is by no means McKenzie’s most provocative statement on matters of urgent relevance.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Clark and Floyd had initially bonded over the show’s namesake app, a means for married people to meet discreet new partners; Floyd, too, had met up with potential paramours like Modern Love (Peter Sarsgaard), the online pseudonym of a local roller rink owner.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Just having Curry back and healthy means so much no matter the role — to the game on the court, yes, but also the mood and morale in the locker room.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for means
Verb
-
In collaboration with global theatrical partners, the new premium large format (PLF) certification signifies a theater meets rigorous technical standards for the ultimate moviegoing experience.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Magyar's party winning the election signifies Hungarian voters’ rejection of Orbán’s far-right movement.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
High-stakes negotiations between Iran and the United States continue, with both sides debating the waterway's reopening, but the only fact that matters to those waiting is that the Strait of Hormuz is still closed, and the threat of attack is likely to keep it that way.—
Desiree Adib,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
And, ultimately, being a writer who borrows from life is something that should be gone about in a considered way, because life matters.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s not a spoiler, because the six-episode limited series never intends for viewers to entertain the possibility that one of its two main characters only exists within the other’s mind.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Hochman told reporters Monday that his office intends to seek an order that would allow the medical examiner's office to release the report into the teen's death.—
Andrew Blankstein,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Preliminary investigation indicates the Hyundai was traveling eastbound on Northwest 199th Street and ran a red light, colliding with the bus, which had a green arrow while turning left onto Northwest 7th Avenue, authorities said.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The meters use electrical conductivity or tensiometer tubes that measure the suction exerted by the soil on the water, which indicates the soil moisture available to plants.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The list of measures in the statement touches on ties that China had suspended in recent years as tensions increased.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
He’s been limited throughout camp as a precautionary measure, according to Frost.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
They are left wielding the tools of instrumentality: in-groups and cliques, buying effort through more money, coercive employment agreements and suits against whistleblowers.—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
-
Holding the weight of cotton’s influence on the world, and thus the instrumentality of Black labor, is painful, yet necessary work.—
Cierra Black,
Essence,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Whether despite this background or because of it, young Zac becomes preoccupied with the outward signs of extreme wealth, luxury cars especially, in a manner somewhat precocious but not entirely remarkable for a teenage boy.—
Mark O’Connell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Jackson is depicted as conniving and quick to use his wealth and fame to overwhelm the family.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The change in coma chemistry observed by the team implies that the internal chemistry of 3I/ATLAS differs from its external chemistry.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
This is exactly what its name implies – gold bullion investments that are less than one troy ounce, or a fraction of that traditional measurement.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Means.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/means. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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