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Synonyms

means

British  
/ miːnz /

noun

  1. (functioning as singular or plural) the medium, method, or instrument used to obtain a result or achieve an end

    a means of communication

  2. (functioning as plural) resources or income

  3. (functioning as plural) considerable wealth or income

    a man of means

  4. without hesitation or doubt; certainly

    come with us by all means

  5. with the use or help of

  6. definitely not

    he was by no manner of means a cruel man

  7. on no account; in no way

    by no means come!
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
means Idioms  

  1. see beyond one's means; by all means; by any means; by means of; by no means; end justifies the means.

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.

“I think most people don’t understand what it means to live under a dictatorship and such a government,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

That means households have less room to absorb higher prices without cutting back on spending.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

You might even call “Can’t Stop” innocuous — although if you do, that means you’re not listening closely to the lyrics.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Intuitiveness is often achieved by hiding complexity, and hiding complexity means that users never have to encounter, or question, what’s happening behind the scenes.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

It was this that set us to discover the means of making the raps.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

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.