What does "mean" mean?
A method or course of action used to achieve some result.
Mean
/miːn/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A method or course of action used to achieve some result.
- Grammar: mean is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: intend, mean value, abject, abominable.
- Useful contrasts: compassionate, kindly, lofty.
- Usage evidence: I may be antisocial, but it doesn't mean I don't talk to people.
How to use "mean"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "mean" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "mean" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "mean" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "mean" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "mean" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "intend" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "mean", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A method or course of action used to achieve some result. also
"To say truth, it is a meane full of uncertainty and danger."
- 2 an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n wordnet
- 3 An intermediate step or intermediate steps. obsolete, singular
"Verily in this treatise this hath been mine only purpose; and the mean to bring the same to effect hath been such as whereby I studied to profit wholesomely, not to please delicately."
- 4 Something which is intermediate or in the middle; an intermediate value or range of values; a medium.
"Then will not this constitution be a kind of mean between aristocracy and oligarchy?"
- 5 The middle part of three-part polyphonic music; now specifically, the alto part in polyphonic music; an alto instrument. historical
"Of these [rattles] they have Base, Tenor, Countertenor, Meane, and Treble."
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- 6 Any function of multiple variables that satisfies certain properties and yields a number representative of its arguments; or, the number so yielded; a measure of central tendency.
"Note that (1.41) is simply the probability-weighted mean without any explicit allowance for the stratification; each observation is weighted by its inflation factor and the total divided by the total of the inflation factors for the survey."
- 7 Any function of multiple variables that satisfies certain properties and yields a number representative of its arguments; or, the number so yielded; a measure of central tendency.; The average of a set of values, calculated by summing them together and dividing by the number of terms.
- 8 Either of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion, as 2 and 3 in 1:2=3:6.
"...if four numbers be in proportion, the product of the first and last, or of the two extremes, is equal to the product of the second and third, or of the two means."
Verb
- 1 To intend.; To intend, to plan (to do); to have as one's intention. transitive
"I didn't mean to knock your tooth out."
- 2 have in mind as a purpose wordnet
- 3 To intend.; To have as intentions of a given kind. intransitive
"Don't be angry; she meant well."
- 4 destine or designate for a certain purpose wordnet
- 5 To intend.; To intend (something) for a given purpose or fate; to predestine. passive, regional, transitive
"Actually this desk was meant for the subeditor."
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- 6 intend to refer to wordnet
- 7 To intend.; To intend an ensuing comment or statement as an explanation. transitive
"Your reasoning seems needlessly abstruse, complex, and verbose for me. I mean, could you dumb it down for my sake?"
- 8 denote or connote wordnet
- 9 To convey (a meaning).; To convey (a given sense); to signify, or indicate (an object or idea). transitive
"The sky is red this morning—does that mean we're in for a storm?"
- 10 mean or intend to express or convey wordnet
- 11 To convey (a meaning).; Of a word, symbol etc: to have reference to, to signify. transitive
"What does this hieroglyph mean?"
- 12 have as a logical consequence wordnet
- 13 To convey (a meaning).; Of a person (or animal etc): to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude. transitive
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."
- 14 have a specified degree of importance wordnet
- 15 To have conviction in (something said or expressed); to be sincere in (what one says). transitive
"Does she really mean what she said to him last night?"
- 16 To cause or produce (a given result); to bring about (a given result). transitive
"One faltering step means certain death."
- 17 To be of some level of importance. usually
"That little dog meant everything to me."
- 18 To lament. Ireland, UK, regional
"Thanne morned Mede · and mened hire to the kynge / To haue space to speke · spede if she myȝte."
Adjective
- 1 Common; general. obsolete
- 2 Having the mean (see noun below) as its value; average. not-comparable
"The mean family has 2.4 children."
- 3 Of a common or low origin, grade, or quality; common; humble. archaic
"a man of mean parentage"
- 4 Middling; intermediate; moderately good, tolerable. not-comparable, obsolete
"I have declared in the causes what harm costiveness hath done in procuring this disease; if it be so noxious, the opposite must needs be good, or mean at least, as indeed it is […]."
- 5 Low in quality or degree; inferior; poor; shabby.
"a mean appearance"
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- 6 Without dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.
"a mean motive"
- 7 Of little value or worth; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.
"The Roman legions and great Caesar found / Our fathers no mean foes."
- 8 Ungenerous; stingy; tight-fisted. UK
"He's so mean. I've never seen him spend so much as five pounds on presents for his children."
- 9 Disobliging; pettily offensive or unaccommodating.
- 10 Intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise; bearing ill will towards another.
"Watch out for her: she's mean. I said good morning to her, and she punched me in the nose."
- 11 Powerful; fierce; strong.
"It must have been a mean typhoon that levelled this town."
- 12 Hearty; spicy. colloquial
"We were sitting in Poetta’s candlelit kitchen waiting for some of her gut-burning chili to get done. Everybody that knows Poetta knows that she makes a mean chili that if you eat it by lunchtime, it can clean out your entire system by the end of the day."
- 13 Accomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with. colloquial
"Your mother can roll a mean cigarette."
- 14 Difficult, tricky. childish, informal, often
"This problem is mean!"
Adjective
- 1 of no value or worth wordnet
- 2 (used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt wordnet
- 3 (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity wordnet
- 4 characterized by malice wordnet
- 5 having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality wordnet
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- 6 approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value wordnet
- 7 marked by poverty befitting a beggar wordnet
- 8 very good; of the highest quality wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 Acronym of MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, Node.js: a software stack for developing web sites with both client-side and server-side use of JavaScript. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I may be antisocial, but it doesn't mean I don't talk to people."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "mean"?
Common synonyms include: intend, mean value, abject, abominable, absolutely, abstemious.
How do you use "mean" in a sentence?
I may be antisocial, but it doesn't mean I don't talk to people.
How do you pronounce "mean"?
Pronounced /miːn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English menen (“to intend; remember; lament; comfort”), from Old English mǣnan (“to mean, complain”), Proto-West Germanic *mainijan, from Proto-Germanic *mainijaną (“to mean, think; complain”), from Proto-Indo-European *meyn- (“to think”), or perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *meyno-, extended form of Proto-Indo-European *mey-. Germanic cognates include West Frisian miene (“to deem, think”) (Old Frisian mēna (“to signify”)), Dutch menen (“to believe, think, mean”) (Middle Dutch menen (“to think, intend”)), German meinen (“to think, mean, believe”), Old Saxon mēnian. Indo-European cognates include Old Irish mían (“wish, desire”) and Polish mienić (“to signify, believe”). Non-Indo-European cognates include Finnish mainita (“to mention”), Finnish meinata (“to mean, to plan, to intend”) Estonian mainima (“to mention”), Northern Sami máinnastit (“to tell”). Related to moan.
Etymology 2
From Middle English mene, imene, from Old English mǣne, ġemǣne (“common, public, general, universal”), from Proto-West Germanic *gamainī, from Proto-Germanic *gamainiz (“common”), from Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“to change, exchange, share”). Doublet of common. Cognate with West Frisian mien (“general, universal”), Dutch gemeen (“common, mean”), German gemein (“common, mean, nasty”), Danish gemen, Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌼𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃 (gamains, “common, unclean”), Latin commūnis (“shared, common, general”) (Old Latin comoinem).
Etymology 3
From Middle English meene, borrowed from Old French meien (French moyen), Late Latin mediānus (“that is in the middle, middle”), from Latin medius (“middle”). Cognate with mid. For the musical sense, compare the cognate Italian mezzano. Doublet of median and mizzen.