meaning 1 of 3

noun

ˈmē-niŋ How to pronounce meaning (audio)
Definition of meaningnext
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

meaning

2 of 3

adjective

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

meaning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of mean
1
as in denoting
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind the national anthem means various things to various people

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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

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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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of meaning
Noun
The site was once a sawmill, a piece of local memory that still carries meaning for people who know the area. — Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 Done right, human insight and AI work in harmony—but only if we humans stay in control of the language and the systems that carry clinical meaning between us. — Frank Naeymi-Rad, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 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
Today, there are fewer competitive seats, thanks to gerrymandering, meaning there are only about 40 seats in the House viewed as in-play. — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 That’s a lot of consolidation, meaning there will be little margin for error. — Austin Mock, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for meaning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meaning
  1. sense
  2. purpose
  3. suggestive
  4. denoting
  5. weighing
  6. planning
  7. indicating
  8. significance
Noun
  • The Voyager starts to make more sense when the bike also needs to handle groceries, school gear, or part of the morning drop-off routine.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
  • For communities facing population loss, an aging workforce, or struggling to retain young professionals and skilled workers, attracting new residents can make economic sense.
    — Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of sense
Noun
  • Officers have been accused of using the technology to track people in their families and personal lives rather than for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Its sturdy purpose is to guide and tow larger vessels through locks and busy lanes.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of purpose
Adjective
  • Messages in 2024 between Johnson and Duffey revealed the two men used suggestive language.
    — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The silly yellow fruit that became a part of their culture was freighted, from the start, with suggestive meaning.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of suggestive
Verb
  • Eligible cars would receive special license plates denoting the car as a historic vehicle and be insured as collector motor vehicles.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • There’s one shaped like a hand grenade; another bears a white-sheet-ghost novelty trinket over the lid, denoting a ghost pepper sauce.
    — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of denoting
Verb
  • For the fifth consecutive year, The Athletic has ranked the head coaches of the Football Bowl Subdivision into eight tiers, weighing everything from resume to resources to longevity and more.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • California lawmakers are weighing whether to take action after videos surfaced showing an electric-shock glove that may soon be used as part of federal immigration enforcement.
    — Steve Large, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of weighing
Verb
  • Unai Emery has been planning for the exit of No 1 Emi Martinez for the last two summers, and much detailed work has duly gone into sourcing his replacement.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The governor is now planning to veto the remaining provisions in the bill, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
    — Julie Watts, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of planning
Verb
  • The researchers also found that protons could be stored and released repeatedly, indicating that their contribution was reversible.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Incumbent Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz beat democratic socialist Oliver Larkin, indicating that coastal Florida Democrats are not comfortable leaning left of center.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of indicating
Noun
  • Chris Levesque, TerraPower president and CEO, stressed the deal’s significance for the company.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Abdurrahman Amer, a festival official, noted the significance of the exhibition.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of significance

Browse Nearby Words

meanies
meaning
meaningful
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Cite this Entry

“Meaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meaning. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on meaning

Nglish: Translation of meaning for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about meaning

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