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

International funding, Patil says, means long waits, complicated contracts and co-production treaties, and Indian filmmakers end up chasing the same grants as professionals from wealthier countries. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Russia’s constant attacks on factories, energy supply systems and the railways means that steel supply to the Ukrainian armed forces is also being degraded. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026

The look is solid, smart, elegant, hitting a summer sweet spot that means guests come back again and again. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

This means they can be launched into a rough area to find potential targets without the need for specific coordinates. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026

The average worker is taking longer to find a new job, and that means more people are exhausting their unemployment benefits before any new paychecks begin. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

This essentially means who will have the best finish among these four, and Wallace, fresh off a nice run in Las Vegas, could be a compelling choice here. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026

Yet, despite these extraordinary advances, the brain still holds countless mysteries, with much more left to learn and discover and optogenetics has given us a powerful means to take on these challenges. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026

That means training for the nonprofit workers who serve New Yorkers every day, in more languages, and staff time for groups to help their communities understand this technology deeply. — Steven Choi, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026

Noun

The end of saving money and raising middle-class wages justifies the means, namely, the destruction of immigrant families. — Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

If buying chocolate means supporting a great cause, why not gift chocolate to everyone in your life this holiday season? — Kate Kassin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Every decision waiting for approval means work that has stopped. — Dr. Nore Salman, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Brands must communicate the percentage and explain what the program’s regenerative designation means, either on the product or via a QR code or digital product page. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Since the dawn of time, the experts tell us, those who got ahead financially lived within their means, saved diligently and spent and invested carefully. — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

There, a few quiet lines of dialogue do a better job of delivering grand passion via modest suggestion than the rest of the movie does by means of tumultuous depiction. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026

On Tuesday, the DA’s Office charged Gonzalez with assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, elder abuse, vandalism and battery. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Signaling a potential means to deflect a future get-out-the-vote blitz, Kay said that anyone affiliated with Los Angeles County was required to recuse themselves and physically leave the meeting room if in person or join a breakout room online. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing means

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