DictionaryAI

mean

MEEN/miːn/

Verbmeans, meaning, meant

Adjectivemeaner, meanest

Noun pluralmeans

24 meanings of mean

Practice

  1. 1
    indicateverbtransitive
    To have a certain sense, or to show that something is true or will happen.

    A red sky in the morning means a storm is coming.

    Do those footprints mean someone was here last night?

    Similarsignal, indicate, suggest, signify

  2. 2
    lead toverbtransitive
    To have a result, or lead to something.

    Missing the last bus means a long walk home in the cold.

    More rain will mean floods downstream.

    UsageSay this means waiting.

    Similarentail, involve, cause, spell

  3. 3
    nastyadjective
    Unkind or nasty to other people, or not willing to be kind or helpful.

    Watch out for her, she's mean.

    That was a mean thing to say.

    UsageSay someone is mean to you.

    Similarunkind

    Oppositekind, nice

  4. 4
    methodnouncountable
    A way of doing something, usually in the plural 'means'.

    The bike is his main means of getting to work.

    The end does not justify the means.

    UsageSay a means of doing something.

    Similarmethod, way, instrument, avenue, medium

    Oppositeend

    Note
  5. 5
    let me explainverbtransitive
    Used as 'I mean' before you explain or correct what you just said.

    The film was too long. I mean, it went on for three hours!

    It's fine. I mean, it's not great, but it's fine.

    UsageFollowed by a comma in writing: I mean, it's not that hard.

    Note
  6. 6
    intended forverbpassivetransitive
    To plan something for a certain use or person, often as 'meant for'.

    This little bed was meant for the baby, not the dog.

    This gift was meant for your sister, not for you.

    UsageSay two people are meant for each other.

    Similarintend, destine, design

    Note
  7. 7
    intend toverbtransitive
    To plan or want to do something, or to want good or bad things for others.

    Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up so early.

    I meant to call you, but it slipped my mind.

    UsageSay I mean to do it, or I've been meaning to.

    Similarintend, plan, aim

  8. 8
    verbtransitive
    To want to say something, or be talking about it.

    I don't understand what you mean.

    When you say soon, do you mean today or next week?

    UsageAsk What do you mean?

    Similarintend, imply, suggest

  9. 9
    be importantverbtransitive
    To matter to someone, usually used with 'to'.

    Her kind letter meant a lot to me during that hard year.

    Titles mean nothing in their circle.

    UsageSay it means a lot to me.

    Similarmatter

  10. 10
    average valueadjective
    Equal to the average of a set of numbers.

    The mean height of the players on the team is six feet.

    The mean temperature in July is 29 degrees.

    Similaraverage

    Note
  11. 11
    noun
    The money someone has or earns, especially enough to live well on.

    He is a man of means and gives a lot of money to charity.

    A new car is beyond our means right now, so we'll keep the old one.

    Similarresources, income, funds, wealth, money

    Note

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Origins

Meanings 1–2, 5–9, 16

From Old English mǣnan, meaning "to mean" or "to complain," from older Germanic and Indo-European roots meaning "to think."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Meanings 3, 13–15, 17–18, 21

From Old English mǣne, meaning "common" or "shared," from an Indo-European root meaning "to change or share."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Meanings 4, 10–12, 19–20, 22

From Old French meien, from Late Latin medianus, from Latin medius, meaning "middle."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts