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
Art Jipson, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
Listeners are taken along the difficult process, which ultimately calls into
question the function of parole, and the meaning of crime and punishment.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2025
Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
But still, 14 out of 33 is not a majority, meaning most of our voters picked someone other than the obvious preseason favorite to win the whole thing.
—Chad Jennings, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Noun
Capitalizing on ambiguities in the understanding of patriotic symbols, extremist groups have attempted to change the meaning of freedom and liberty embedded in the symbol of the American flag.
—Art Jipson, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025
Listeners are taken along the difficult process, which ultimately calls into
question the function of parole, and the meaning of crime and punishment.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
Before their flight, the Tigers signed veteran outfielder Manuel Margot, meaning there is one fewer spot left to win.
—Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
But still, 14 out of 33 is not a majority, meaning most of our voters picked someone other than the obvious preseason favorite to win the whole thing.
—Chad Jennings, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
Noun
-
In this sense, Biden’s brand of post-neoliberalism fed the body but not the soul.—
Jennifer M. Harris,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Colts’ draft analysis • Mock draft analysis: Does TE still make the most sense in Round1?—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
And then there's still a question after that, of meaning and purpose.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
27 Apr. 2025
-
The two sides talked football on the visit, but the other purpose of bringing him to the Virginia Mason Athletic Center was to learn about the young man under the helmet.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Mackintosh and Bourne mitigate the damage by grouping some songs together and presenting them in an ingeniously suggestive dramatic fashion.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2025
-
This revelation tempers the expectations of a Dynasty revival despite the suggestive interactions and Hammerstone's social media activity.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Truly pocket sized and weighing just 165g, FiiO says this is the ideal travel companion thanks to 12 hours of battery life and a two-hour fast-charge mode.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
-
Recreationally, Schnell drives vehicles weighing more than 12,000 pounds for stadiums packed with fans.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
For new investors in their early 20s or 30s who have never experienced a market correction or for someone planning on retiring soon, experiencing a market correction can be very unsettling.—
Earl Carr,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The administration is planning a much broader reduction of its workforce.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Currently, there is no data indicating the containment progress of the fire and its cause has not yet been determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacramento Bee,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Smoke blew around the crater with weak to moderate pressure and firelight was seen at the peak, indicating that the glowing volcanic material was at a shallow depth.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The course is all about immersing students into the significance of wine beyond the glass and to view it as an agricultural product that livelihoods rely on; to showcase this, Suckling hones in on the stories and personalities behind some of Tuscany’s iconic vineyards.—
Jillian Dara,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The significance of this, to Gribetz, is a matter not of race but of class.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The key to success is finding the best glycolic acid formula for your skin’s needs and goals, which includes figuring out the right format and concentration of acid.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
19 Apr. 2025
-
The seventh-place Lions are only below Chelsea on goal differential and have just a one-point deficit with Manchester City for the final Champions League spot.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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