mean to

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

"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

Also, what does being at the first Los Angeles Olympics in 44 years mean to you?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 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

"You know what the books mean to me and what your films mean to me," Colbert told Jackson.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

"I told you I didn't mean to take the puppy!"

From "Case of the Sneaky Snowman: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #5" by Carolyn Keene