mean
verb /miːn/
/miːn/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they mean | /miːn/ /miːn/ |
| he / she / it means | /miːnz/ /miːnz/ |
| past simple meant | /ment/ /ment/ |
| past participle meant | /ment/ /ment/ |
| -ing form meaning | /ˈmiːnɪŋ/ /ˈmiːnɪŋ/ |
- (not used in the progressive tenses) (of a word) to have something as a meaning in the same or another language
- mean something What does this sentence mean?
- What does ‘lark’ mean?
- The word ‘Kuching’ means ‘cat’ in Malay.
- Many languages use a single word to mean both music and dance.
- What is meant by ‘batch processing’?
Extra Examples- ‘Parcours’ is a French word meaning the route or the journey.
- ‘Zavod’ is usually translated as ‘The Iron Foundry’, though the word means simply ‘factory’ or ‘work’.
- (not used in the progressive tenses) to have something as a meaning; to represent something
- mean something by something What do we mean by democracy?
- mean something to somebody Does the name ‘Jos Vos’ mean anything to you (= do you know who he is)?
- mean (that)… The flashing light means (that) you must stop.
- mean something The Olympics have come to mean a wide variety of things.
Extra Examples- Convenience means different things to different customers.
- Too often impressionism is taken to mean gazing through a soft-focus lens.
- (not used in the progressive tenses) to intend to say something on a particular occasion
- mean something by something What did he mean by that remark?
- mean something ‘Perhaps we should try another approach.’ ‘What do you mean? (= I don't understand what you are suggesting.)’
- ‘What's that supposed to mean?’ demanded John.
- What do you mean, you thought I wouldn't mind? (= of course I mind and I am very angry)
- What she means is that there's no point in waiting here.
- I always found him a little strange, if you know what I mean (= if you understand what I mean by ‘strange’).
- I know what you mean (= I understand and feel sympathy). I hated learning to drive too.
- (informal) It was like—weird. Know what I mean?
- I see what you mean (= I understand although I may not agree), but I still think it's worth trying.
- See what I mean (= I was right and this proves it, doesn't it)? She never agrees to anything I suggest.
- ‘But Pete doesn't know we're here!’ ‘That's what I mean! (= that's what I have been trying to tell you.)’
- Do you mean Ann Smith or Mary Smith?
- mean (that)… Did he mean (that) he was dissatisfied with our service?
- You mean (= are you telling me) we have to start all over again?
Language Bank i.e.i.e.Explaining what you mean- Some poems are mnemonics, i.e. they are designed to help you remember something.
- Some poems are mnemonics, that is to say, they are designed to help you remember something.
- Mnemonic poems, that is poems designed to help you remember something, are an excellent way to learn lists.
- A limerick’s rhyme scheme is A–A–B–B–A. In other words, the first, second, and fifth lines all rhyme with one another, while the third and fourth lines have their own rhyme.
- In this exercise the reader is encouraged to work out the meaning, or rather the range of meanings, of the poem.
- This is a poem about death, or, more precisely, dying.
- He says his poems deal with ‘the big issues’, by which he means love, loss, grief and death.
Express Yourself Correcting yourselfCorrecting yourselfWhen you say something that was not quite what you intended, you can correct yourself in various ways:- I'll be there at five fifteen, I mean five fifty—ten to six.
- It'll be Tuesday—sorry, I meant to say Thursday.
- Sorry, what I mean is, we need two handouts per person.
- We can meet in the conference centre—or rather in front of the centre.
- The painter—or should I say, the sculptor—was born in Padua.
- It's one t and double s—no, sorry, one s and double t.
- It's on the fifth floor—no, actually, it's the fourth.
- Can I get two lattes and an espresso—no, scratch that—three lattes?
- There are three items on tonight's agenda. Correction, four items.
- to have something as a purpose or intention synonym intend
- mean something What did she mean by leaving so early (= why did she do it)?
- Don't laugh! I mean it (= I am serious).
- He means trouble (= to cause trouble).
- mean something as something Don't be upset—I'm sure she meant it as a compliment.
- mean what… He means what he says (= is not joking, exaggerating, etc.).
- mean something for somebody/something The chair was clearly meant for a child.
- Don't be angry. I'm sure she meant it for the best (= intended to be helpful).
- mean to do something She means to succeed.
- I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't mean to.
- I'm feeling very guilty—I've been meaning to call my parents for days, but still haven't got around to it.
- mean somebody/something to do something I didn't mean you to read the letter.
- You're meant to (= you are supposed to) pay before you go in.
- mean (that)… (formal) I never meant (that) you should come alone.
Extra Examples- What do you mean by that?
- I didn't mean to read your letter.
- The house was clearly meant to be a family home.
- There was a rack by the door presumably meant for umbrellas.
- They are not using the system in the way the manufacturer meant it to be used.
- to have something as a result or a likely result synonym entail
- mean something Spending too much now will mean a shortage of cash next year.
- Being frugal doesn't necessarily mean doing without.
- Lower energy consumption means less pollution.
- Touching the wires means instant death.
- mean to be/do something Do you have any idea what it means to be poor?
- mean (that)… We’ll have to be careful with money but that doesn’t mean (that) we can’t enjoy ourselves.
- mean doing something This new order will mean working overtime.
- mean somebody/something doing something The injury could mean him missing next week's game.
- High unemployment means people are spending less.
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitives- afford
- agree
- appear
- arrange
- attempt
- beg
- choose
- consent
- decide
- expect
- fail
- happen
- hesitate
- hope
- intend
- learn
- manage
- mean
- neglect
- offer
- prepare
- pretend
- promise
- refuse
- swear
- try
- want
- wish
Extra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effectb1- Mr President, does this mean an end to the current conflict?
- The cost would have meant financial ruin for us.
- Good civic planning means more green space.
- Rural life meant having to draw water from a well every day.
- [no passive] mean something to somebody to be of value or importance to somebody
- Your friendship means a great deal to me.
- $20 means a lot (= represents a lot of money) when you live on $100 a week.
- Money means nothing to him.
- Her children mean the world to her.
- [often passive] to intend somebody to be or do something
- be meant for something/somebody I was never meant for the army (= did not have the qualities needed to become a soldier).
- Duncan and Makiko were meant for each other (= are very suitable as partners).
- mean somebody/something to be something His father meant him to be an engineer.
- She did everything to get the two of them together, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
have as meaning
intend as meaning
have as purpose
have as result
be important
intend somebody to be/do something
Word Originverb Old English mænan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch meenen and German meinen, from an Indo-European root shared by mind.
Idioms
be meant to be something
- to be generally considered to be something
- This restaurant is meant to be excellent.
I mean
- (informal) used to explain or correct what you have just said
- It was so boring—I mean, nothing happened for the first hour!
- She's English—Scottish, I mean.
mean business
- (informal) to be serious in your intentions
- He has the look of a man who means business.
- He says he's going to make changes, and I think he means business.
mean (somebody) no harm | not mean (somebody) any harm
- to not have any intention of hurting somebody
mean to say
- used to emphasize what you are saying or to ask somebody if they really mean what they say
- I mean to say, you should have known how he would react!
- Do you mean to say you've lost it?
mean well
- to have good intentions, although their effect may not be good