mean to

Idioms

Intend to, as in I meant to go running this morning but got up too late, or I'm sorry I broke it—I didn't mean to. This idiom was first recorded in 1560.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"For this driver, I think there is no target, no pressure other than enjoy karting to get maximum experience, but also to understand what does it mean to be a McLaren driver."

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

"I didn't mean to offend anyone," he said, seeming shy and uncomfortable with the media attention the project has generated.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

From what you say in your letter, it frustrates you that he does not seem to understand — or respect — what this $6 million in retirement savings mean to you.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

But what does it mean to be “subject to the jurisdiction thereof”? Elena Kagan pressed the government on its interpretation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

“We didn’t mean to traumatize you. This isn’t how I imagined this going.”

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023