meant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral (used across formal, informal, spoken, and written contexts)
Quick answer
What does “meant” mean?
Past tense and past participle of 'mean': to intend to convey, indicate, or refer to something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Past tense and past participle of 'mean': to intend to convey, indicate, or refer to something; to have as a purpose or intention.
Can also signify that something was designed or destined for a particular purpose or person, or that it logically entails a certain consequence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “meant” in a Sentence
Subject + meant + to-infinitive (intention)Subject + meant + that-clause (signification)Subject + meant + Object + for/to be (destiny/purpose)It + meant + that-clause (consequence)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He meant to post the letter, but forgot.
- What she said meant a great deal to me.
- The gift was meant for your sister.
American English
- I meant to call you yesterday.
- His silence meant he agreed.
- This room was meant to be a study.
adjective
British English
- It was a well-meant gesture, though clumsy.
- His badly-meant advice caused more problems.
American English
- She offered a kind-meant critique.
- The ill-meant comment was quickly forgotten.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to discuss past strategies, intentions behind decisions, or projected outcomes. 'The merger was meant to boost market share.'
Academic
Used to explain the intended meaning of a term, author's purpose, or logical implications. 'The term, as Locke meant it, referred to simple ideas.'
Everyday
Commonly used to discuss past plans, intentions, or misunderstandings. 'I'm sorry, I never meant to upset you.'
Technical
Used in logic, semantics, or programming to denote defined purpose or specified function. 'The error code meant the system had timed out.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meant”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meant”
- Using 'meaned' (incorrect; irregular past is 'meant').
- Confusing 'meant to' (intention) with 'supposed to' (obligation/expectation) in all contexts.
- Using present tense 'mean' when narrating past events.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'meaned' is not a standard English word. The correct past tense and past participle of the verb 'mean' is always 'meant'.
'Meant to' primarily expresses intention, purpose, or destiny ('It was meant to happen'). 'Supposed to' often expresses obligation, expectation, or rumour ('You are supposed to wear a tie'). They can overlap, but 'supposed to' is more common for social rules.
Yes, but typically only in compound forms like 'well-meant' or 'ill-meant', which describe the nature of an intention. It is not used as a standalone adjective (e.g., you wouldn't say 'a meant comment').
It is pronounced /mɛnt/, rhyming with 'sent', 'dent', and 'tent'. The 'ea' is pronounced as a short /ɛ/ sound, unlike in 'mean' (/miːn/).
Past tense and past participle of 'mean': to intend to convey, indicate, or refer to something.
Meant is usually neutral (used across formal, informal, spoken, and written contexts) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “meant to be (fated/destined)”
- “well-meant (with good intentions)”
- “meant the world to someone (was extremely important)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link 'meant' to 'MENTal intention' – it's about what you had in your mind in the past.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTENTION IS A TARGET/DESTINATION (e.g., 'He meant to go there' maps purpose onto physical direction).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The comment, though harsh, was well-___', which word best completes the meaning?