meaning
Americannoun
-
what is intended to be, or actually is, expressed or indicated; signification; import.
the three meanings of a word.
-
the end, purpose, or significance of something.
What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of this intrusion?
-
Linguistics.
-
the nonlinguistic cultural correlate, reference, or denotation of a linguistic form; expression.
-
linguistic content (opposed to expression).
-
adjective
-
intentioned (usually used in combination).
She's a well-meaning person.
-
full of significance; expressive.
a meaning look.
noun
-
the sense or significance of a word, sentence, symbol, etc; import; semantic or lexical content
-
the purpose underlying or intended by speech, action, etc
-
the inner, symbolic, or true interpretation, value, or message
the meaning of a dream
-
valid content; efficacy
a law with little or no meaning
-
philosophy
-
the sense of an expression; its connotation
-
the reference of an expression; its denotation. In recent philosophical writings meaning can be used in both the above senses See also sense
-
adjective
Related Words
Meaning, purport, sense, significance denote that which is expressed or indicated by something. Meaning is the general word denoting that which is intended to be or actually is expressed or indicated: the meaning of a word or glance. Sense may be used to denote a particular meaning (among others) of a word or phrase: The word is frequently used in this sense. Sense may also be used loosely to refer to intelligible meaning: There's no sense in what he says. Significance refers particularly to a meaning that is implied rather than expressed: the significance of her glance; or to a meaning the importance of which may not be easy to perceive immediately: The real significance of his words was not grasped at the time. Purport is mainly limited to the meaning of a formal document, speech, important conversation, etc., and refers to the gist of something fairly complicated: the purport of your letter to the editor.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of meaning
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (noun); see mean 1, -ing 1, -ing 2
Explanation
Meaning is what a word, action, or concept is all about — its purpose, significance, or definition. If you want to learn the meaning of the word meaning, you just need to look it up in the dictionary. Meaning represents something's intent or purpose. That something can be a book, a conversation, a television show, or life itself (as in, "the meaning of life"). When you read a poem, you try to figure out the author's intended meaning by interpreting the words he has chosen. For example, if a poet describes love as "a prison," you might interpret the meaning as his feeling confined by his love.
Vocabulary lists containing meaning
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Dictionary Words: Lexicography Lingo
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Neither team features a single starter that is even 30 years old, meaning the teams already running laps around the rest of the league are about to get even better.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
“Climate change is exacerbating the challenges in those ecosystems, meaning that less and less water will be available to import,” said Ashley Overhouse, water policy advisor for the group Defenders of Wildlife.
From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026
Barnard has filed as an intervenor in the case, meaning it isn’t a party in the suit but wants to participate.
From Salon • May 25, 2026
Chelsea's poor season contained one final insult when they were beaten at Sunderland on the final day, meaning they have no European football under new manager Xabi Alonso next season.
From BBC • May 25, 2026
In his father’s world, everything had a double meaning.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
