meaning

adjectiveonly before nounold-fashioned

UK /ˈmiːnɪŋ/

1
communicating a feeling or intention very clearly
Synonyms and related words
Having a meaning
meaningful
unambiguous
significant

meaning

adjectiveonly before noun

US /ˈminɪŋ/

1
communicating a feeling or intention very clearly
Synonyms and related words
Having a meaning
meaningful
unambiguous
significant

meaning

noun

UK /ˈmiːnɪŋ/

Word Forms

singular	meaning
plural	meanings

1
countable/uncountable the thing, action, feeling, idea etc that a word or words represent
Move this word and you change the meaning of the sentence.
get/catch someone’s meaning (=understand what they are saying):
I’m not sure I get your meaning.
layers/shades of meaning (=different meanings that are not obvious):
Examine the writing closely, and you discover multiple layers of meaning.
Synonyms and related words
General words for meaning
meaning
significance
usage
1. 1a
  the ideas that signs, symbols, or ways of behaving represent
  It seems that the clothes have a deep religious meaning.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for meaning
  meaning
  significance
  usage
2. 1b
  the ideas that writers, artists, musicians etc try to express in their work
  This poem’s real meaning has always been a puzzle.
  Synonyms and related words
  Relating to the work of an artist
  aesthetic
  cherub
  commission
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with meaning
▪ actual, deep, hidden, intended, literal, real, symbolic, true
Verbs frequently used with meaning as the object
▪ catch, decipher, determine, discover, get, grasp, understand
2
singular/uncountable the special importance or purpose of something
meaning of:
The book tackles important questions, such as the meaning of life.
meaning to:
There didn’t seem to be any meaning to her work.
meaning for:
Religion has little meaning for many people today.
something loses its meaning:
Times change and ancient customs lose their meaning.
Synonyms and related words
Importance
importance
emphasis
priority

phrases

know/not know the meaning of something

what’s the meaning of this?

meaning

noun

US /ˈminɪŋ/

Word Forms

singular	meaning
plural	meanings

1
countable/uncountable the thing, action, feeling, idea, etc. that a word or words represent
Move this word and you change the meaning of the sentence.
get/catch someone’s meaning (=understand what they are saying):
I’m not sure I get your meaning.
layers/shades of meaning (=different meanings that are not obvious):
Examine the writing closely, and you discover multiple layers of meaning.
Synonyms and related words
General words for meaning
meaning
significance
usage
1. 1a
  the ideas that signs, symbols, or ways of behaving represent
  It seems that the clothes have a deep religious meaning.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for meaning
  meaning
  significance
  usage
2. 1b
  the ideas that writers, artists, musicians, etc. try to express in their work
  This poem’s real meaning has always been a puzzle.
  Synonyms and related words
  Relating to the work of an artist
  aesthetic
  cherub
  commission
Collocates
Adjectives frequently used with meaning
▪ actual, deep, hidden, intended, literal, real, symbolic, true
Verbs frequently used with meaning as the object
▪ catch, decipher, determine, discover, get, grasp, understand
2
singular/uncountable the special importance or purpose of something
meaning of:
The book tackles important questions, such as the meaning of life.
meaning to:
There didn’t seem to be any meaning to her work.
meaning for:
Religion has little meaning for many people today.
something loses its meaning:
Times change and ancient customs lose their meaning.
Synonyms and related words
Importance
importance
emphasis
priority

phrases

know/not know the meaning of something

what’s the meaning of this?

meaning

meaning

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meaning ​‌‌‌

meaning

meaning