Synonyms of means

means 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mean

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

• signifies
• implies
• denotes
• indicates
• suggests
• intends
• spells
• expresses
• explains
• represents
• imports
• infers
• symbolizes
• connotes
• symbols
• specifies
• mentions
• hints
• amounts (to)
• announces
• embodies
• refers (to)
• points (to)
• signals
• intimates
• adds up (to)
• alludes (to)
• proclaims
• touches (on or upon)
• personifies
• epitomizes
• cites
• instances
• designates
• insinuates
• declares
• elucidates
• adverts

2

as in matters

to be of importance

your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• matters
• weighs
• signifies
• counts
• influences
• affects
• imports
• cuts ice
• carries weight
• concerns
• amounts (to)
• adds up (to)
• sways

3

as in intends

to have in mind as a purpose or goal

I mean to win this race

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intends
• plans
• contemplates
• hopes
• purposes
• goes
• aims
• looks
• proposes
• wishes
• tries
• purports
• allows
• calculates
• aspires
• designs
• considers
• figures on
• attempts
• meditates
• dreams
• strives
• accomplishes
• achieves
• struggles
• schemes
• debates
• plots
• ponders
• performs
• effects
• executes
• endeavors
• mulls (over)

4

as in indicates

to serve as a sign or symptom of

these colder nights mean autumn has truly arrived

Synonyms & Similar Words

• indicates
• signifies
• denotes
• points (to)
• tells (of)
• betokens
• bodes
• bespeaks
• presages
• foretells
• foreshows

means

2 of 2

noun

plural of mean

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

• measure
• step
• move
• action
• effort
• shift
• attempt
• expedient
• resource
• doing
• procedure
• act
• process
• operation
• course
• initiative
• try
• dealing
• proceeding
• activity
• success
• feat
• while
• deed
• thing
• project
• accomplishment
• attainment
• work
• endeavor
• exploit
• achievement
• coup
• triumph
• proposal
• event
• pass
• undertaking
• enterprise
• trouble
• proposition
• go
• business
• exertion
• labor
• resort
• crack
• stab
• pains
• essay
• trial
• shot
• affair
• whack
• counterstep
• stopgap
• countermeasure
• fling
• makeshift
• countermove

2

as in instrumentality

something used to achieve an end

the ends don't justify the means

Synonyms & Similar Words

• instrumentality
• instrument
• agent
• vehicle
• mechanism
• factor
• tool
• power
• incentive
• agency
• machinery
• organ
• ministry
• influence
• medium
• reason
• ingredient
• cause
• impetus
• determinant
• weapon
• catalyst
• driver
• expedient
• stimulus
• generator
• inspiration
• trigger
• antecedent
• executor
• occasion
• activator
• instigation
• mover
• instigator
• launcher
• energizer
• animator
• subagency
• subagent

3

as in wealth

the total of one's money and property

a woman of considerable means

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wealth
• assets
• things
• money
• capital
• worth
• funds
• fortune
• riches
• substance
• possessions
• wherewithal
• effects
• resources
• success
• prosperity
• savings
• opulence
• holdings
• finances
• property
• belongings
• abundance
• wallet
• acquisition
• affluence
• chattels
• paraphernalia
• personal property
• treasure
• deep pockets
• bankroll
• personalty
• treasury
• accession
• reserve
• nest egg
• valuables

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• liabilities
• debts
• indebtedness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of means

Verb

Which means a lot can change between now and then, including most of the team’s rosters. — Dean Jones, New York Times, 20 July 2026

This home’s location, which is near the Farmington line, means that services and businesses in the Farmington and Unionville areas, as well as those in Avon and Canton, are just minutes away. — James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

In South Korea, almost eighty per cent of children regularly attend a hagwon—a private-tutoring center that supplements their schooling and prepares them for tests—which means that many kids are spending up to twelve hours a day in a classroom. — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

Fine particle pollution is expected to reach the red category across all four regions under the alert, which means the air is unhealthy for everyone. — Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 19 July 2026

This means everyday indoor air can expose children to higher concentrations of harmful substances than many parents realize. — Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026

This means Tokyo is now a bargain next to places like New York or Zurich. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 19 July 2026

Also known as fragrance stacking, layering means mixing scents to create your own custom blend according to Almira Armstrong, founder of Lumira. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 6 July 2026

Furthermore, the centralized App Store infrastructure means third-party applications would cease to function if Apple's servers are no longer active. — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026

Noun

Russia has launched several large-scale attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks as Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot air defense missiles, which are its most effective means of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. — ABC News, 19 July 2026

While defense spending remains unequal among European NATO countries, most countries have made progress on increasing the means devoted to military capabilities. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Those with more modest means are falling further behind and, perhaps most alarmingly, finding fewer pathways to the economic mobility that has helped define the American dream. — Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

To the authors, a new constitutional government that controlled both the impulses of the masses and the abuses of their leaders would serve as the means through which the new United States government could accomplish this task. — Donovan Fifield, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

The aliens determine that Fran’s rocket could provide their means of getting back home to safety. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 July 2026

The presentation by the Chinese CASC researchers didn’t specify the means of such an attack. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026

The blessing in disguise that was the Maxx Crosby-to-Baltimore deal falling through means the Raiders still have a top-flight pass rusher. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Making the final means the Huskies could be very good this fall. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

Phrases Containing means

• by all means
• by means of
• by no means