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
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Recent Examples of meaning
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
When everything is described in superlatives, scale begins to lose meaning.
—Atom Ariola, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 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
Francie Ebert, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Overall, vaccination was associated with about a 46% reduction in risk, meaning those who received the vaccine had roughly half the risk compared with those who were unvaccinated.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Noun
Close is saddled with an overextended subplot as the film’s main human antagonist, who adds semi-stylish layers without much meaning.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026
When everything is described in superlatives, scale begins to lose meaning.
—Atom Ariola, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 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
This tripped a fuse, meaning there was no heat in the building the night the sloths died.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Overall, vaccination was associated with about a 46% reduction in risk, meaning those who received the vaccine had roughly half the risk compared with those who were unvaccinated.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
Noun
-
That’s not to say the decisions were easy and lacked a sense of foreboding.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
February 19 – March 20 Small choices today create a sense of ease that lasts.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Justice Brett Kavanaugh emphasized that a major purpose of the federal law is to provide uniformity.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Here, sheep can’t solve crimes until human incompetence forces them to step into the breach; though pushed for the purposes of fantasy, the limits of animal intelligence are a poignant factor in the tale.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Proofs are littered with suggestive ellipses.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Researchers also found highly suggestive evidence that eating more ultraprocessed foods raised the risk of obesity by 55%, sleep disorders by 41%, development of type 2 diabetes by 40% and the risk of depression by 20%.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
But our understanding of pedantry, denoting the sticklerishness of academic specialists and grammar obsessives, is a relatively narrow one.—
Clare Bucknell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Missouri faces a legal battle over a referendum to redraw one key district even before weighing changes under the Supreme Court’s decision.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Atmos Rewards members can pack up to 12 bottles in a box or case weighing 50 pounds or less.—
Hali Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An hour before Hitchcock's execution, Texas is planning to put James Broadnax to death for the 2008 double murder of two Christian music producers in the Dallas suburb of Garland.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Countries across the Gulf have arrested scores of people during the war, on charges ranging from posting images of wartime damage, to planning terrorist attacks with Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Contracts are priced between 1 cent (indicating a low probability) and 99 cents (indicating a high probability), and settle at $1 if the outcome is correct.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Lain was part of a group of concerned residents who went to Godley Superintendent Rich Dear with information about Ketcherside’s prior convictions and evidence indicating Ketcherside was still involved in prostitution.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This remarkable find was unearthed at the earliest military camp discovered in the area, which holds national significance due to its Roman remains.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Britain’s strategic significance for the United States eroded further with Brexit, starting in 2016 with the approval of a referendum to leave the European Union and the formal withdrawal four years later.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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