meet
1 of 3verb
ˈmēt 
met ˈmet ; meeting; meets
; meeting; meets transitive verb
1
a
: to come into the presence of for the first time : to be introduced to or become acquainted with
I'm pleased to meet you.
Where did you two meet each other?
I met him in college.
We met her through a mutual friend.
b
: to come together with especially at a particular time or place
I'll meet you at the station
c
: to come into contact or conjunction with : join
There is where the brook meets the river.
d
: to appear to the perception of
a pungent odor … met his nostrils
S. E. White
S. E. White2
: to encounter as antagonist (see antagonist sense 1) or foe : oppose
met the heavyweight in a successful bout
3
: to enter into conference, argument, or personal dealings with
We met her over coffee.
4
: to conform to especially with exactitude and precision
a concept to meet all requirements
5
: to pay fully : settle
could not meet his loans Waldo Frank
Waldo Frank6
: to cope with
was able to meet every social situation
7
: to provide for
enough money to meet our needs
8
: to become acquainted with
I want you to meet my sister.
9
: encounter, experience
The proposal has met some opposition.
You will likely meet many obstacles on your journey.
He met an untimely death.
10
: to receive or greet in an official capacity
The president met the prime minister at the White House.
intransitive verb
1
a
: to come face-to-face
That's the restaurant where they met.
b
: to come together for a common purpose : assemble
The delegates met at the convention.
c
: to come together as contestants, opponents, or enemies
The candidates met for their debate.
2
: to form a junction or confluence
the lines meet in a point
3
: to occur together
many graces and many virtues meet in her
meeter noun
meet
2 of 3noun
plural meets
1
chiefly US : a large gathering of athletes for a sports competition
a wrestling/gymnastic meet
the championship meet
… everyone has a personal laundry list of what generally ails track and field. Some say the failure to have more meets on television heads the list. But merely putting a meet on television won't solve the sport's failure to promote itself. William C. Rhoden
see also dual meet, quad meet, swim meet, track meet, tri-meet William C. Rhoden2
chiefly British : a gathering of mounted hunters and their hunting dogs for hunting
When hunting with hounds was legal, I used to attend the Boxing Day meet in Newbury Market Place, hoping that the hunt members would have a jolly good day out but that the fox would get away. Roy Bailey Hungerford
Roy Bailey HungerfordIt was so cold that I nursed a hope that a glass of cherry brandy … might be on offer at the meet. But no, we gathered at a gate leading to open country and the hills near which most of the foxhunters … mounted. W. F. Deedes
W. F. Deedes3
: an instance of coming together at a particular time or place especially for the first time
They set up a meet with a potential buyer.
So I confess to being a bit skeptical about meeting someone online, texting back and forth, finally arranging a meet, and having it develop into a committed lifelong relationship. Robert Kirby
see also meet and greet, swap meet Robert Kirbymeet
3 of 3adjective
archaic & dialectal British
: precisely adapted to a particular situation, need, or circumstance : very proper
… their ghosts … haunt the fires by which sit armed men, as is meet for the spirits of fearless warriors who died in battle. Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad meetly adverb
Synonyms
Verb
- catch
- chance (upon)
- encounter
- happen (upon)
- stumble (upon)
Noun
- bout
- competition
- contest
- event
- game
- match
- matchup
- sweepstakes
- sweep-stake
- tournament
- tourney
Adjective
- applicable
- appropriate
- apt
- becoming
- befitting
- felicitous
- fit
- fitted
- fitting
- good
- happy
- pretty
- proper
- right
- suitable
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He met his wife at work. We met each other in college. Did you meet anyone interesting at the party? I'd like you to meet my good friend Bob. The couple met at a dance. Have we met? You look familiar. They met for drinks after work. We arranged to meet for lunch. Let's meet at the park. They meet together every week. Adjective in this case, splitting the winnings of the contested lottery ticket seems like a meet solution See More
Recent Examples on the Web Robert Mccoppin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 After the ceremony, Shepherd's first official duty as commander was to meet with the staff and outline his priorities, which include raising Guard awareness of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. Renarda Williams, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2022 The San Diego Humane Society will have a booth where folks can meet a canine ambassador and learn about pet adoptions and services. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2022 Pictures of the meet-and-greet were shared on social media by the Correa Family Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2022 And President Joe Biden will meet with families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan today, Americans currently jailed in Russia. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2022 The district said schools would provide alternative days for parents to meet with teachers and that athletic games set for Oct. 5 would be rescheduled. Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2022 An increase in living costs may be pushing people to sign up as Uber drivers to make ends meet. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 The vote — with 505 in favor, 92 against, and 44 abstentions — came as inflation and skyrocketing energy bills have left many households struggling to make ends meet. BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 Caroline Framke, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 In a rare Hollywood meet-cute, the pair first connected by chance on a cruise ship. Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE.com, 28 July 2022 Billy Porter makes his feature directorial debut with Anything's Possible, about a trans high school student who has a meet-cute with a popular senior. Ew Staff, EW.com, 22 July 2022 After a clandestine meet-cute, Drea (Alpha, fallen it girl) and Eleanor (beta, new alt girl) team up to go after each other’s tormentors. Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 21 July 2022 Dear Finding: What a sweet meet-cute for you and your beau, and a fabulous suggestion to those seeking companionship, love or maybe a new hobby. cleveland, 2 July 2022 Dear Finding: What a sweet meet-cute for you and your beau, and a fabulous suggestion to those seeking companionship, love or maybe a new hobby. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 2 July 2022 She’s wanted by Julius (Dominic Cooper), the classic spurned-invading-warlord who wants to conquer a kingdom and force his ‘legitimacy’ by marrying the existing King’s daughter—a classic rom-com meet-cute. Jeff Ewing, Forbes, 1 July 2022 Given her long-time love of Outlander (and her crush on Sam), maybe this meet-cute could be the start of something more? Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 10 June 2022 Sarah Michaud, PEOPLE.com, 28 June 2022 World asked him to respond to a thread on an internet message board about his future as coach on Tuesday during the pre-meet news conference. Ken Goe For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 11 June 2022 There must be consequences when these expectations are not meet. Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2022 Rogers already has thrown down with a meet-record time of 1:58.77 at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays in April. Ken Goe For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 26 May 2022 Peters glided to a state title with a meet-record time of 9 minutes, 25.15 seconds. oregonlive, 20 May 2022 It’s only when circumstances (and fate, in one bizarre twist on meet-cute tradition) force the overgrown brats into the same room that the film takes on a nervous, recognizably human energy, cuing at least one honest, plausibly halting conversation. Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 May 2022 From frothy beach reads bursting with meet-cute moments and real-time LOLs to pitch-perfect memoirs and page-turning thrillers, the months of May through August offer some seriously great reading material. Ashley Leath And Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 18 May 2022 The Medina boys were meet champions with 45.5 points. cleveland, 16 Apr. 2022 See More
Verb
In free-market Michigan, if applicants meet the criteria and have local permission, they get licensed, with no limit on the number of businesses. Robert Mccoppin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 After the ceremony, Shepherd's first official duty as commander was to meet with the staff and outline his priorities, which include raising Guard awareness of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion. Renarda Williams, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2022 The San Diego Humane Society will have a booth where folks can meet a canine ambassador and learn about pet adoptions and services. Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2022 Pictures of the meet-and-greet were shared on social media by the Correa Family Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2022 And President Joe Biden will meet with families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan today, Americans currently jailed in Russia. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2022 The district said schools would provide alternative days for parents to meet with teachers and that athletic games set for Oct. 5 would be rescheduled. Cassidy Jensen, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2022 An increase in living costs may be pushing people to sign up as Uber drivers to make ends meet. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 The vote — with 505 in favor, 92 against, and 44 abstentions — came as inflation and skyrocketing energy bills have left many households struggling to make ends meet. BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 Noun
But both Oliver Lyttelton’s take on the setup and the American at its center have more up their sleeves than a charming meet-cute. Caroline Framke, Variety, 7 Sep. 2022 In a rare Hollywood meet-cute, the pair first connected by chance on a cruise ship. Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE.com, 28 July 2022 Billy Porter makes his feature directorial debut with Anything's Possible, about a trans high school student who has a meet-cute with a popular senior. Ew Staff, EW.com, 22 July 2022 After a clandestine meet-cute, Drea (Alpha, fallen it girl) and Eleanor (beta, new alt girl) team up to go after each other’s tormentors. Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 21 July 2022 Dear Finding: What a sweet meet-cute for you and your beau, and a fabulous suggestion to those seeking companionship, love or maybe a new hobby. cleveland, 2 July 2022 Dear Finding: What a sweet meet-cute for you and your beau, and a fabulous suggestion to those seeking companionship, love or maybe a new hobby. Annie Lane, oregonlive, 2 July 2022 She’s wanted by Julius (Dominic Cooper), the classic spurned-invading-warlord who wants to conquer a kingdom and force his ‘legitimacy’ by marrying the existing King’s daughter—a classic rom-com meet-cute. Jeff Ewing, Forbes, 1 July 2022 Given her long-time love of Outlander (and her crush on Sam), maybe this meet-cute could be the start of something more? Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 10 June 2022 Adjective
Six years after a meet-cute straight out of a romantic comedy, country singer Tyler Barham and his longtime love Morgan Hauerwas have tied the knot! Sarah Michaud, PEOPLE.com, 28 June 2022 World asked him to respond to a thread on an internet message board about his future as coach on Tuesday during the pre-meet news conference. Ken Goe For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 11 June 2022 There must be consequences when these expectations are not meet. Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2022 Rogers already has thrown down with a meet-record time of 1:58.77 at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays in April. Ken Goe For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 26 May 2022 Peters glided to a state title with a meet-record time of 9 minutes, 25.15 seconds. oregonlive, 20 May 2022 It’s only when circumstances (and fate, in one bizarre twist on meet-cute tradition) force the overgrown brats into the same room that the film takes on a nervous, recognizably human energy, cuing at least one honest, plausibly halting conversation. Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 May 2022 From frothy beach reads bursting with meet-cute moments and real-time LOLs to pitch-perfect memoirs and page-turning thrillers, the months of May through August offer some seriously great reading material. Ashley Leath And Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 18 May 2022 The Medina boys were meet champions with 45.5 points. cleveland, 16 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English meten, from Old English mētan; akin to Old English gemōt assembly — more at moot entry 3
Adjective
Middle English mete, from Old English gemǣte; akin to Old English metan to mete
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1804, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing meet
Kids Definition
meet 1 of 2
verb
ˈmēt
met
ˈmet
; meeting 1
: to get to know : become acquainted
They met at a party.
2
: to come upon or across
He met a friend while shopping.
3
: to be at a place to greet or keep an appointment
Please meet me at the airport.
We met in the park for lunch.
4
: to approach from the opposite direction
When you meet another car, keep to the right.
5
: to touch and join or cross
The town is located where two rivers meet.
6
: to experience something
Poor Sarah met an awful fate … Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends
Shel Silverstein, Where the Sidewalk Ends7
: to hold a gathering or assembly The club meets on Mondays.
8
: to be sensed by
What lovely sounds meet the ears!
9
: to deal with
You must meet problems as they appear.
10
: to fulfill the requirements of : satisfy
I will be unable to meet your demands.
meet
2 of 2noun
: a meeting for sports competition
a track meet
meet 1 of 3
verb
1
as in to encounter
to come upon face-to-face or as if face-to-face we never once met another car on that lonely country road Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- encounter
- greet
- confront
- catch
- run upon
- run into
- run across
- bump into
- face
- accost
- stumble (upon)
- salute
- cross paths (with)
- pass
- happen (upon)
- cross
- remeet
- chance (upon)
- reencounter
- crisscross
- collide (with)
- hit (upon)
- tumble (to)
- crash (into)
- light (upon)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- avoid
- evade
- escape
- shake
- elude
- shun
- dodge
- duck
2
as in to converge
to come together into one body or place we'll meet for dinner, with a discussion to follow, next week Synonyms & Similar Words
- converge
- gather
- rendezvous
- convene
- assemble
- join
- collect
- congregate
- cooperate
- collaborate
- get together
- merge
- cluster
- concentrate
- forgather
- foregather
- conglomerate
- consolidate
- unite
- club
- reconvene
- concenter
- couple
- associate
- federate
- remeet
- consort
- caucus
- ally
- confederate
- conjoin
- affiliate
- reassemble
- gang up
- regather
- band (together)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- leave
- split (up)
- disperse
- disband
- break up
- depart
- take off
- dissociate
- disunite
- disjoin
3
as in to find
to come upon unexpectedly or by chance met her future husband at a party Synonyms & Similar Words
- find
- encounter
- run against
- run upon
- come across
- run into
- run across
- face
- confront
- bump into
- discover
- hit (upon)
- tumble (upon)
- pitch (upon)
- stumble (on or onto)
- happen (on or upon)
- light (on or upon)
- chance (upon)
- turn up
- strike
- luck (out, on, onto, or into)
4
as in to fulfill
to do what is required by the terms of a financially struggling city trying to meet its loans Synonyms & Similar Words
- fulfill
- satisfy
- fulfil
- keep
- complete
- answer
- fill
- finalize
- make good
- abide by
- redeem
- accomplish
- achieve
- perfect
- finish
- comply (with)
- conclude
- make good on
- consummate
- execute
- carry out
- effect
- make
- perform
- bring about
- commit
- bring off
- discharge
- compass
- follow through (with)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- break
- violate
- transgress
- breach
- forget
- ignore
- slight
- disregard
- overlook
- default (on)
- neglect
- pass over
- overpass
5
as in to face
to enter into contest or conflict with the up-and-coming boxer will meet the reigning champ for the first time tomorrow Synonyms & Similar Words
- encounter
- face
- engage
- fight
- battle
- take on
- rival
- emulate
- contend
- oppose
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- evade
- escape
- elude
- retreat
6
as in to match
to produce something equal to (as in quality or value) I'll meet your bet, nay, I'll even raise it Synonyms & Similar Words
- match
- surpass
- tie
- equal
- touch
- beat
- approach
- top
- better
- transcend
- outdo
- outstrip
- outshine
- excel
- outdistance
- rival
- eclipse
- approximate
- parallel
- overtop
- keep up
- measure up (to)
- amount (to)
- stack up (against or with)
7
as in to stand
to put up with (something painful or difficult) trying to meet the challenge of going to college while working at a full-time job Synonyms & Similar Words
- stand
- tolerate
- accept
- endure
- take
- handle
- sustain
- bear
- support
- absorb
- abide
- go
- stick out
- stand for
- stomach
- wear
- swallow
- live with
- sweat out
- countenance
- allow
- bide
- suffer
- permit
- brook
- tough it out
- pocket
- hack
- lump (it)
- respect
- acquiesce
- capitulate
- reconcile (to)
- submit (to)
- yield (to)
- agree (with or to)
- consent (to)
- assent (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- refuse
- reject
- dismiss
- avoid
- resist
- fight
- oppose
- escape
- evade
- miss
- repudiate
- decline
- spurn
- combat
- turn down
- circumvent
- contest
- elude
- bypass
- refrain (from)
- dodge
- forbear
- abstain (from)
8
as in to pay
to give what is owed for I paid a portion of the long-distance bill to keep my carrier from cutting off service until I can meet the remainder of the charges Synonyms & Similar Words
- pay
- settle
- stand
- pay up
- balance
- pay off
- liquidate
- foot
- clear
- discharge
- pony up
- recompense
- quit
- spring (for)
- ante (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- repudiate
meet
2 of 3noun
as in tournament
a competitive encounter between individuals or groups carried on for amusement, exercise, or in pursuit of a prize a swim meet Synonyms & Similar Words
- tournament
- match
- event
- competition
- game
- championship
- contest
- bout
- tourney
- sport
- matchup
- sweep-stake
- open
- struggle
- battle
- final
- race
- sweepstakes
- set
- athletics
- skirmish
- semifinal
- tussle
- round
- run
- conflict
- outing
- derby
- marathon
- field day
- rally
- national(s)
- scrimmage
- heat
- triathlon
- pentathlon
- photo finish
- rubber
- volley
- runoff
- decathlon
- nightcap
- gymkhana
- dead heat
- sudden death
- play-off
- biathlon
- tug-of-war
- heptathlon
- seesaw
- classic
- ultramarathon
- round-robin
meet
3 of 3adjective
as in suitable
meeting the requirements of a purpose or situation in this case, splitting the winnings of the contested lottery ticket seems like a meet solution Synonyms & Similar Words
- suitable
- fit
- appropriate
- fitting
- fitted
- proper
- good
- happy
- needed
- applicable
- required
- right
- becoming
- befitting
- pretty
- in order
- adequate
- apt
- balanced
- able
- acceptable
- just
- qualified
- deserved
- felicitous
- satisfactory
- capable
- justified
- requisite
- trained
- competent
- cut out
- decent
- correct
- decorous
- tolerable
- respectable
- seemly
- condign
- kosher
- rightful
- serviceable
- harmonious
- consonant
- companionate
- congruous
- pitch-perfect
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unhappy
- unfit
- wrong
- inappropriate
- improper
- inapplicable
- unsuitable
- incapable
- incongruous
- unbecoming
- unmeet
- unseemly
- inadequate
- indecent
- incompetent
- inapt
- unfitting
- unqualified
- unskilled
- unsatisfactory
- unacceptable
- untrained
- unbeseeming
- inapposite
- misbecoming
- intolerable
- unapt
- inept
- inexpert
- infelicitous
- incorrect
- unskillful
- incompatible
- indecorous
- malapropos
- uncongenial
- graceless
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of meet are appropriate, apt, felicitous, fitting, fit, happy, proper, and suitable. While all these words mean "right with respect to some end, need, use, or circumstance," meet suggests a just proportioning.
meet payment
Although the words appropriate and meet have much in common, appropriate implies eminent or distinctive fitness.
an appropriate gift
The synonyms apt and meet are sometimes interchangeable, but apt connotes a fitness marked by nicety and discrimination.
apt quotations
The meanings of felicitous and meet largely overlap; however, felicitous suggests an aptness that is opportune, telling, or graceful.
a felicitous phrase
While in some cases nearly identical to meet, fit stresses adaptability and sometimes special readiness for use or action.
fit for battle
In some situations, the words fitting and meet are roughly equivalent. However, fitting implies harmony of mood or tone.
a fitting end
While the synonyms happy and meet are close in meaning, happy suggests what is effectively or successfully appropriate.
a happy choice of words
The words proper and meet can be used in similar contexts, but proper suggests a suitability through essential nature or accordance with custom.
proper acknowledgement
The words suitable and meet are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, suitable implies an answering to requirements or demands.
clothes suitable for camping
Phrases Containing meet
- discommending
- discommends
- discommissions
- discommode
- discommoded
- discommodes
- discommoding
- discommodious
- discommodiously
- discommodiousness
- discommodities
- discommodity
- discommon
- discommoned
- discommoning
- discommons
- discommune
- discompose
- discomposed
- discomposes
- discomposing
- discomposure
- discomposures
- discomycete
- Discomycetes