meaning
Americannoun
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what is intended to be, or actually is, expressed or indicated; signification; import.
the three meanings of a word.
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the end, purpose, or significance of something.
What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of this intrusion?
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Linguistics.
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the nonlinguistic cultural correlate, reference, or denotation of a linguistic form; expression.
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linguistic content (opposed to expression).
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adjective
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intentioned (usually used in combination).
She's a well-meaning person.
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full of significance; expressive.
a meaning look.
noun
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the sense or significance of a word, sentence, symbol, etc; import; semantic or lexical content
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the purpose underlying or intended by speech, action, etc
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the inner, symbolic, or true interpretation, value, or message
the meaning of a dream
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valid content; efficacy
a law with little or no meaning
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philosophy
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the sense of an expression; its connotation
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the reference of an expression; its denotation. In recent philosophical writings meaning can be used in both the above senses See also sense
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adjective
Synonym Usage
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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)
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Dictionary Words: Lexicography Lingo
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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.
She also made Hall's family members "interested persons", meaning they would be able to interrogate evidence or witnesses at a future inquest.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
He said serious traders tend to do extensive research in order to make money, meaning their bets are educated.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026
As a result, the interaction works in one direction, meaning that action and reaction are no longer balanced.
From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026
In 2007, 46% of renter households were cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
So there is no benefit in trying to understand their meaning.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
