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
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 May 2026
The case forced the court to confront the underlying meaning of democracy.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 14 May 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
Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Kimmel and Fallon have announced that their programs will go dark on that night to honor Colbert, meaning ABC and NBC will air reruns of their shows instead of new episodes.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Noun
Those dynamics have such a wide variety of messages and meanings and lessons to have.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 May 2026
The case forced the court to confront the underlying meaning of democracy.
—Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 14 May 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
Forms also describes itself as a design-first company, meaning that designs are created before materials are sourced.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Kimmel and Fallon have announced that their programs will go dark on that night to honor Colbert, meaning ABC and NBC will air reruns of their shows instead of new episodes.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
Noun
-
That wouldn't have made sense if Rodgers weren't on the team.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
What doesn’t make sense is why the same amenity is not available at the airport in West Palm Beach.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Each object was made by someone, with a precise intention—to embody a necessary purpose, once held in relation to a community.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Iran, which says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, was said to have included some nuclear concessions in its latest proposal to end the war.—
Michelle L. Price,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
The sisters opted for suggestive sartorial choices, with Kylie Jenner stepping onto the carpet in a revealing strapless gown by Schiaparelli.—
Swasti Singhai,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
There are several variations on classic trivia packaged into different games, as well as a one-letter-guessing game that’s suggestive of Jeopardy.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
According to Opta’s Power Rankings — denoting the strength of each team — Farke’s side have the easiest run-in of any side fighting to avoid the drop.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The new jet also features 13 stars denoting the 13 original colonies on its fuselage, the main body of an aircraft, and a circle of stars on each engine cowling, or covering, reflecting the original Betsy Ross flag and an America250 decal on the nose and winglet.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The campaign now moves forward with voters weighing sharply different visions for California’s future as the primary draws closer.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
And other states are weighing similar options.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Many four-year colleges have been planning for such a transition for years.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
-
Too bad then that the man holding a debt over his head (Jonathan Coyne) is actually planning on offing him in his last match.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The New Jersey depot opened in a small unbranded industrial facility in Carlstadt, with municipal records indicating that contractors added storage racks and refrigerators inside.—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
-
Officials have said the test taken aboard the ship was likely a false positive, and that the physician does not have antibodies to hantavirus, indicating he was never exposed to or ill with it.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
That projection is based on the player’s performance in each metric over the last three seasons (five for goalies), weighted for recency where more recent seasons carry more significance and regressed to the mean.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
The significance of these findings The study suggests human right-handedness may be deeply rooted in the same evolutionary changes that transformed how our ancestors moved and interacted with the world.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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