meaning
1 of 2noun
mean·ing ˈmē-niŋ 
1
a
: the thing one intends to convey especially by language : purport
Do not mistake my meaning.
b
: the thing that is conveyed especially by language : import
Many words have more than one meaning.
2
: something meant or intended : aim
a mischievous meaning was apparent
3
: significant quality
especially : implication of a hidden or special significance
a glance full of meaning
4
a
: the logical connotation of a word or phrase
b
: the logical denotation or extension of a word or phrase
meaning
2 of 2adjective
somewhat old-fashioned
: conveying or intended to convey meaning : significant, meaningful
a meaning smile
When any mention was made of baronets either married or unmarried, of former lovers, of broken vows, or of second engagements, Miss Altifiorla would look with a meaning glance at her hostess.
Anthony Trollope
Anthony TrollopeRuby lifted her heavy-lidded eyes and sent him a meaning look. Edna Ferber
Edna Ferber meaningly
ˈmē-niŋ-lē
adverb She said: "I am not a very plucky girl." She looked up at me and added meaningly: "And you know it. And you know why." Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad "I have come about a private matter," he said, looking meaningly at Betty, who got up and began to move toward the door. P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse 
Synonyms
Noun
- content
- denotation
- drift
- import
- intent
- intention
- purport
- sense
- significance
- signification
Adjective
- eloquent
- expressive
- meaningful
- pregnant
- revealing
- revelatory
- significant
- suggestive
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun What is the precise meaning of this word in English? an old word that has taken on a new meaning The word has both literal meanings and figurative meanings. a word with various shades of meaning Don't distort her meaning by taking her words out of context. I didn't understand the meaning of his remark. Literary critics disagree about the meanings of his poems. a poem with subtle shades of meaning What is the meaning of life? It's a story about the true meaning of Christmas. See More
Recent Examples on the Web A-LIST, 24 Dec. 2017 As the story unfolds, the past catches up to the present and Mr. Sorkin keeps trying to invest Molly’s story with meaning, mostly through a little family psychodrama and some deeply unpersuasive feminism, including by casting her as a victim of men. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2017 Each of these ornaments holds a special meaning to me about that person. Debbie Arrington, sacbee, 22 Dec. 2017 The Boston Celtics added new meaning to stealing a win on the road. For The Win, 19 Dec. 2017 Yet, each of you can rejoice in the beauty and true meaning of the season. Columbia Flier, 12 Dec. 2017 In general, the nature or meaning of the information being delivered does not matter all that much, as long as some attention is being paid. The Economist, 4 Nov. 2017 Unraveling the meaning of the mummies therefore has the potential to reveal some of the deepest mysteries of a mysterious people. Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2017 The teen's mother says understanding the meaning of just one word the boy said could have stopped this whole situation, reports CBS News' Jamie Yuccas. CBS News, 21 Sep. 2017 See More
Noun
Motorcycle sales accordingly went up, as people tried to reconnect with the true meaning of speed. A-LIST, 24 Dec. 2017 As the story unfolds, the past catches up to the present and Mr. Sorkin keeps trying to invest Molly’s story with meaning, mostly through a little family psychodrama and some deeply unpersuasive feminism, including by casting her as a victim of men. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2017 Each of these ornaments holds a special meaning to me about that person. Debbie Arrington, sacbee, 22 Dec. 2017 The Boston Celtics added new meaning to stealing a win on the road. For The Win, 19 Dec. 2017 Yet, each of you can rejoice in the beauty and true meaning of the season. Columbia Flier, 12 Dec. 2017 In general, the nature or meaning of the information being delivered does not matter all that much, as long as some attention is being paid. The Economist, 4 Nov. 2017 Unraveling the meaning of the mummies therefore has the potential to reveal some of the deepest mysteries of a mysterious people. Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2017 The teen's mother says understanding the meaning of just one word the boy said could have stopped this whole situation, reports CBS News' Jamie Yuccas. CBS News, 21 Sep. 2017 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1726, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing meaning
Kids Definition
meaning
noun
mean·ing ˈmē-niŋ
1
: the idea that is represented by a word, phrase, or statement
2
: the idea a person intends to express by something said or done
What is the meaning of this behavior?
3
: the reason or explanation for something
… Father Wolf taught him … the meaning of things in the jungle … Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book4
: the quality of communicating something or of being important
He gave me a look full of meaning.
meaning 1 of 3
noun
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
- sense
- significance
- content
- intention
- intent
- definition
- connotation
- import
- implication
- message
- theme
- signification
- nature
- denotation
- drift
- purport
- indication
- essence
- clue
- suggestion
- topic
- stuff
- spirit
- tenor
- hint
- subject
- motive
- acceptance
- soul
- question
- cue
- matter
- inkling
- heart
- burden
- core
- gist
- intimation
- bottom
- point
- kernel
- nucleus
- motif
- marrow
- acceptation
- essentiality
- quick
- crux
- pith
- nub
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
- purpose
- idea
- intention
- intent
- goal
- plan
- aim
- object
- thing
- objective
- dream
- ambition
- design
- aspiration
- point
- target
- ideal
- end
- mark
- bourne
- bourn
- project
- hope
- name of the game
- pretension
- mind
- desire
- scheme
- wish
- plot
- destination
- grail
- holy grail
- terminus
- nirvana
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- way
- means
- method
meaning
2 of 3adjective
as in suggestive
clearly conveying a special meaning (as one's mood) gave me a meaning look after I said that Synonyms & Similar Words
- suggestive
- meaningful
- revealing
- expressive
- eloquent
- revelatory
- reminiscent
- pregnant
- significant
- evocative
- graphic
- pictorial
- vivid
- graphical
- redolent
- flavorful
- rich
- sententious
- weighty
- full-bodied
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unexpressive
meaning
3 of 3verb
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
- denoting
- signifying
- implying
- spelling
- indicating
- expressing
- intending
- suggesting
- connoting
- explaining
- inferring
- importing
- symbolizing
- representing
- symbolling
- symboling
- hinting
- specifying
- mentioning
- embodying
- personifying
- intimating
- signaling
- announcing
- proclaiming
- adverting
- insinuating
- epitomizing
- citing
- elucidating
- signalling
- designating
- declaring
- amounting (to)
- alluding (to)
- adding up (to)
- pointing (to)
- touching (on or upon)
- referring (to)
- instancing
2
as in mattering
to be of importance your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me Synonyms & Similar Words
- mattering
- weighing
- signifying
- affecting
- cutting ice
- carrying weight
- counting
- importing
- influencing
- concerning
- swaying
- amounting (to)
- adding up (to)
3
as in intending
to have in mind as a purpose or goal I mean to win this race Synonyms & Similar Words
- intending
- planning
- hoping
- contemplating
- looking
- going
- aiming
- trying
- wishing
- proposing
- meditating
- calculating
- purporting
- allowing
- designing
- purposing
- considering
- pondering
- aspiring
- attempting
- dreaming
- striving
- figuring on
- debating
- struggling
- achieving
- accomplishing
- effecting
- plotting
- endeavoring
- performing
- executing
- mulling (over)
- scheming
4
as in indicating
to serve as a sign or symptom of these colder nights mean autumn has truly arrived Synonyms & Similar Words
- indicating
- denoting
- signifying
- betokening
- foreshowing
- pointing (to)
- foretelling
- telling (of)
- presaging
- bespeaking
- boding
- ethnolinguistic
- ethnolinguistics
- ethnologic
- ethnological
- ethnologies
- ethnologist
- ethnologists
- ethnology
- ethnomedical
- ethnomedicine
- ethnomethodologies
- ethnomethodologist
- ethnomethodologists
- ethnomethodology
- ethnomusicological
- ethnomusicologies
- ethnomusicologist
- ethnomusicologists
- ethnomusicology
- ethnonym
- ethnonyms
- ethnopsychological
- ethnopsychologically
- ethnopsychology
- ethnos