meaningful
Americanadjective
adjective
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having great meaning or validity
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eloquent, expressive
a meaningful silence
Usage
What are other ways to say meaningful? Something that is meaningful, such as a meaningful wink or meaningful choice, is full of meaning, purpose, or value. Do you know how meaningful differs from the synonyms expressive, significant, and suggestive? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of meaningful
Explanation
Use the adjective meaningful to describe something that has a purpose, like a political rally for a cause you believe in strongly. You would probably say that your backpacking trip across Asia was meaningful, or worthwhile, but you might not describe three hours watching bad TV shows as meaningful. When something is important or significant, it is meaningful, or "full of meaning." Meaning itself comes from the word mean, which has its roots in the Old English mænan, "to signify, tell, or complain."
Vocabulary lists containing meaningful
Power Suffix: -ful
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Very Necessary: Synonyms for "Important"
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-ful
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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.
What stood out to me while reading both articles is that both sportsmen are righteous, grateful people who honor their parents in meaningful ways.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
Tower needs a more meaningful acceleration through FY27 and FY28, it says.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
A recent review of lecanemab and donanemab, once hailed as "breakthrough" drugs to treat Alzheimer's, found despite slowing its progression it was not significant enough to make a meaningful difference to patients.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
Test results from federally certified labs must be accurate but not necessarily clinically meaningful or actionable.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
I had not just cousins but also cousins of cousins, and those cousins of cousins had kids, none of whom I’d ever leave out and all of whom made the day more meaningful and merry.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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.
