A means of doing something is a method, instrument, or process which can be used to do it.Means is both the singular and the plural form for this use.
The move is a means to fight crime.
The army had perfected the use of terror as a means of controlling the population. [+ of]
Business managers are focused on increasing their personal wealth by any availablemeans.
2. plural noun [oft NOUN to-infinitive]
You can refer to the money that someone has as their means.
[formal]
...a person of means.
He did not have the means to compensate her.
3.
See to live beyond your means
4.
See by means of
5.
See by all means
6.
See not by any means
7.
See a means to an end
More Synonyms of means
means in British English
(miːnz)
noun
1. (functioning as singular or plural)
the medium, method, or instrument used to obtain a result or achieve an end
a means of communication
2. (functioning as plural)
resources or income
3. (functioning as plural)
considerable wealth or income
a person of means
4. by all means
5. by means of
6. by no manner of means
7. by no means
means in American English
(minz)
plural noun
1. [with sing. or pl. v.]
that by which something is done or obtained; agency
the fastest means of travel
2.
resources or available wealth; often, specif., great wealth; riches
a person of means
Idioms:
by all means
by any means
by means of
by no (manner of) means
means to an end
Word origin
< , mean3 noun
More idioms containing
means
by fair means or foul
Examples of 'means' in a sentence
means
Political change was merely the means to that end.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
But the massive amounts of money available means sources can often include reluctant sellers and penniless villagers.
The Sun (2015)
Study for you is a means to an end.
Christianity Today (2000)
All that money means is that you can have some nice pictures on the wall.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You are to use all means at your disposal to get them back.
Richard Holmes Dusty Warriors: Modern Soldiers at War (2006)
We have to show the dignity of our ambitions and sometimes that means fighting until the end.
The Sun (2010)
The way you dress means something bigger and more political though?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet figures show it could cost more to set up the means testing than it would save.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He implored his army of volunteers to get voters to the caucuses tomorrow by any means possible.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Some will think the end justifies the means.
The Sun (2011)
They must at last provide a means of defence to civilians who have none.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
For many it epitomised the callousness of leaders who for years have regarded power as a means of making money.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It refuses to admit that it could possibly be wrong or could possibly use the wrong means to its end.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING IN TURBULENT TIMES (1980)
Life is bleak without love: perhaps that means life is bleak without grief.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Everyone knows life no longer means life, no matter how serious the crime.
The Sun (2006)
The gentle irony is there, but directed at the subject matter rather than the means of production.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They saw sniping as a means of fighting for their country and making a difference on a one-to-one basis.
Andy Dougan THE HUNTING OF MAN (2004)
The latter means, of course, would be preferable.
George Eliot Middlemarch (1872)
The'tax' means tenants may lose part of their housing benefit if they have spare bedrooms.
The Sun (2013)
And these proposals are, of course, a means to an end.
George Monbiot THE AGE OF CONSENT (2003)
In other languages
means
British English: means /miːnz/ NOUN
You can refer to the money that someone has as their means.
The service is available to all, regardless of means.
American English: means
Arabic: وَسَائِلُ
Brazilian Portuguese: meios
Chinese: 财富
Croatian: sredstva
Czech: prostředky
Danish: middel
Dutch: inkomen
European Spanish: medio recurso
Finnish: väline
French: moyens
German: Mittel
Greek: τα μέσα
Italian: mezzi
Japanese: 手段
Korean: 수단
Norwegian: midler
Polish: środki
European Portuguese: meios
Romanian: posibilități financiare
Russian: средства
Latin American Spanish: medio método para obtener un resultado
Swedish: medel sätt
Thai: วิธี
Turkish: yol
Ukrainian: статки
Vietnamese: phương tiện
Chinese translation of 'means'
means
(miːnz)
Word forms:plmeans
n(c)
(= method) 方法 (fāngfǎ) (个(個), gè)
n pl
(frm, = money) 财(財)富 (cáifù)
by means of通过(過) (tōngguò)
by all means!当(當)然! (Dāngrán!)
by no means决(決)不 (jué bù)
mean
(miːn)
Word forms:ptppmeant
vt
(= signify) 表示 ... 意思 (biǎoshi ... yìsi)
⇒ In modern Welsh, "glas" means "blue".在现代威尔士语中，"glas" 表示的意思是"蓝色"。 (Zài xiàndài Wēi'ěrshìyǔ zhōng, "glas" biǎoshì de yìsi shì "lánsè".)
(= refer to) 意指 (yìzhǐ)
⇒ I thought you meant her, not me.我想你指的是她，不是我。 (Wǒ xiǎng nǐ zhǐ de shì tā, bù shì wǒ.)
(= involve) 意味着(著) (yìwèizhe)
⇒ Becoming a millionaire didn't mean an end to his money worries.成为百万富翁并不意味着他不再被钱困扰。 (Chéngwéi bǎiwàn fùwēng bìng bù yìwèi zhe tā bùzài bèi qián kùnrǎo.)
(= intend)
to mean to do sth意欲做某事 (yìyù zuò mǒushì)
a film meant for adults针(針)对(對)成人的电(電)影 (zhēnduì chéngrén de diànyǐng)