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

What Hasty built instead compares each coach against the specific opposing talent his players faced, which means a good coach with a bad roster finally looks different from a bad coach with a good one. — Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

This means the raccoon is probably a mother using your home as a nesting site. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026

These are hot-swappable, which means individual keys can be changed out without soldering. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

This setup also means they aren’t taxed like gambling, which generated nearly $18 billion in revenue for states last year. — Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

The below-average pass rush means the vulnerable secondary could be overly exposed. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Another almost perfectly equidistant location, and yes this means three games in Iowa. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

To travel well often means opening yourself up to discomfort or difference, which inherently means a willingness to make a fool of yourself. — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026

Noun

The Gulf states have experimented with ship-to-ship transfers and other means of moving crude around Iranian restrictions. — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026

Living with endometriosis means becoming an expert on highly specialized ingredients and constantly cross-checking product labels. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026

Shai-Hulud employed an unconventional means for ensuring its channel for collecting credentials was immune to third-party takedowns. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Often featuring object narrators with a moral valence—Bibles and prayer books were popular—these stories targeted audiences with limited means to select their own reading material, including children. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

Fiction and poetry offered another means of exploring the self, distinct from her visual practice. — Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026

For Abdul-Kafi, making barbecue means providing first-time experiences to people who have traditionally been unable to eat it. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026

The three-minute notification was communicated by alternate means, acknowledged by a controller and positive contact was established with Marine One before takeoff. — CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026

Ballistic missile attacks have increased civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across Ukraine - and Patriots are the only means of shooting them down. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing means

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