American Dictionary
Definition mean in American English
mean
verb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
[transitive]
verb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
When you want to say what something involves or what its result is, use the verb mean followed by the -ing form. Don’t use an infinitive:
✗ Being tolerant means not to be prejudiced.
✓ Being tolerant means not being prejudiced.
✗ Reversing these changes would mean to challenge the power of the government.
✓ Reversing these changes would mean challenging the power of the government.
It is possible, especially in British English, to use mean with an infinitive when you want to say that someone intends to do something:
They intend to pour cash into the health service, but they also mean to reform it.
In this sense, mean is often used in the passive:
Taking children into care is meant to be in the interests of the children, not the state.
to have a particular meaning
What does "pulchritude" mean?
to communicate a particular meaning, feeling, or piece of information
I took their silence to mean disapproval.
I know they didn't mean our family any disrespect.
to say something with a particular intention
Don't be offended: she meant it as a compliment.
This development could mean that the lawsuit will be dropped.
Related Words
Words related to mean: