Meaning — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective verb /ˈmē-niŋ/ mean·ing

Meaning & Definition of Meaning

Meaning (noun)

  1. the thing one intends to convey especially by language, purport
  2. the thing that is conveyed especially by language, import
  3. something meant or intended, aim

Meaning (adjective)

  1. conveying or intended to convey meaning, significant, meaningful

Meaning (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: content, denotation, drift, import, intent, intention, purport, sense, significance, signification
    related: connotation, clue, cue, hint, implication, indication, inkling, intimation, suggestion, message, tenor, theme, bottom, essence, essentiality, nature, soul, spirit, stuff, acceptance, acceptation, definition, burden, crux, gist, core, heart, kernel, marrow, nub, nucleus, pith, point, quick, matter, motif, motive, question, subject, topic

  2. 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"

    similar: aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne, design, dream, end, goal, idea, ideal, intent, intention, mark, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing, name of the game
    related: grail, holy grail, plot, project, scheme, desire, hope, mind, wish, nirvana, destination, terminus
    near: means, method, way

Meaning (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood)

    "gave me a meaning look after I said that"

    similar: eloquent, expressive, meaningful, pregnant, revealing, revelatory, significant, suggestive
    related: graphic, pictorial, vivid, evocative, redolent, reminiscent, sententious, weighty, flavorful, full-bodied, rich
    opposite: blank, deadpan, expresionless, inexpressive, unexpressive, vacant

Meaning (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind

    "the national anthem means various things to various people"

    similar: denoting, expressing, importing, intending, signifying, spelling
    related: connoting, implying, suggesting, adding up (to), amounting (to), hinting, inferring, insinuating, intimating, embodying, epitomizing, personifying, representing, symboling, symbolizing, adverting, alluding (to), citing, instancing, mentioning, referring (to), specifying, touching (on or upon), designating, indicating, pointing (to), signaling, announcing, declaring, proclaiming, elucidating, explaining

  2. to be of importance

    "your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me"

    similar: counting, importing, mattering, signifying, weighing, carrying weight, cutting ice
    related: affecting, concerning, influencing, swaying, adding up (to), amounting (to)

  3. to have in mind as a purpose or goal

    "I mean to win this race"

    similar: aiming, allowing (chiefly Southern & Midland), aspiring, calculating, contemplating, designing, going (chiefly Southern & Midland), intending, looking, meditating, planning, proposing, purporting, purposing, figuring on
    related: dreaming, hoping, wishing, considering, debating, mulling (over), pondering, attempting, endeavoring, striving, struggling, trying, plotting, scheming, accomplishing, achieving, effecting, executing, performing

  4. to serve as a sign or symptom of

    "these colder nights mean autumn has truly arrived"

    similar: bespeaking, betokening, denoting, indicating, pointing (to), signifying, telling (of)
    related: boding, foreshowing, foretelling, presaging

Related Entry: Mean (verb)

Mean is a different word from Meaning. The synonyms below are for mean, not for meaning.

  1. to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind

    "the national anthem means various things to various people"

    similar: denote, express, import, intend, signify, spell
    related: connote, imply, suggest, add up (to), amount (to), hint, infer, insinuate, intimate, embody, epitomize, personify, represent, symbol, symbolize, advert, allude (to), cite, instance, mention, refer (to), specify, touch (on or upon), designate, indicate, point (to), signal, announce, declare, proclaim, elucidate, explain

  2. to be of importance

    "your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me"

    similar: count, import, matter, signify, weigh, carry weight, cut ice
    related: affect, concern, influence, sway, add up (to), amount (to)

  3. to have in mind as a purpose or goal

    "I mean to win this race"

    similar: aim, allow (chiefly Southern & Midland), aspire, calculate, contemplate, design, go (chiefly Southern & Midland), intend, look, meditate, plan, propose, purport, purpose, figure on
    related: dream, hope, wish, consider, debate, mull (over), ponder, attempt, endeavor, strive, struggle, try, plot, scheme, accomplish, achieve, effect, execute, perform

  4. to serve as a sign or symptom of

    "these colder nights mean autumn has truly arrived"

    similar: bespeak, betoken, denote, indicate, point (to), signify, tell (of)
    related: bode, foreshow, foretell, presage

Related Entry: Well-meaning (adjective)

Well-meaning is a different word from Meaning. The synonyms below are for well-meaning, not for meaning.

  1. as in generous, benevolent

    similar: generous, kind, kindhearted, altruistic, benevolent, charitable, unenvious
    opposite: covetous, envious, green-eyed, invidious, jaundiced, jealous, resentful, begrudging, grudging, avaricious, grasping, greedy, rapacious

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Meaning

The most common words with a similar meaning to Meaning:

Chiefly Southern & Midland: allowing, going
content, denotation, drift, import, intent, intention, purport, sense, significance, signification, aim, ambition, aspiration, bourne, design, dream, end, goal, idea, ideal, mark, object, objective, plan, point, pretension, purpose, target, thing, name of the game, eloquent, expressive, meaningful, pregnant, revealing, revelatory, significant, suggestive, denoting, expressing

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Meaning

Words with the opposite meaning of Meaning:

blank, deadpan, expresionless, inexpressive, unexpressive, vacant

Related Words for Meaning

connotation, clue, cue, hint, implication, indication, inkling, intimation, suggestion, message, tenor, theme, bottom, essence, essentiality, nature, soul, spirit, stuff, acceptance, acceptation, definition, burden, crux, gist, core, heart, kernel, marrow, nub

Near Antonyms of Meaning

means, method, way

Word Forms of Meaning

Derived words: meaningly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Meaning

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Meaning

Words & Phrases Containing Meaning

grammatical meaning, lexical meaning, well-meaning, know the meaning of (something)

Frequently Asked Questions about Meaning

What does "Meaning" mean?

"Meaning" means the thing one intends to convey especially by language, purport. As an a noun, an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: the thing one intends to convey especially by language, purport. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Meaning"?

Other words for "Meaning" include content, denotation, drift, import, intent, intention, purport and sense. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Meaning" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Meaning"?

There are 187 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Meaning". Common alternatives include content, denotation, drift, import, intent, intention, purport, sense, significance and signification.

What is the opposite of "Meaning"?

Antonyms of "Meaning" include blank, deadpan, expresionless, inexpressive, unexpressive and vacant. Near antonyms include means, method and way.

How do you use "Meaning" in a sentence?

Examples of "Meaning" in a sentence: "the unmistakable meaning of the skier's upraised arms as he finished his spectacular run"; "the people have a right to know what the president's meaning is in getting the nation involved in this war"; "gave me a meaning look after I said that".

Is "Meaning" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Meaning" can be used as a noun, an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Meaning" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Meaning" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Meaning"?

"Meaning" is pronounced /ˈmē-niŋ/ and divided into syllables as mean·ing.