mean 1 of 4

verb

ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
Definition of meannext
1
as in to signify
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind the national anthem means various things to various people

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Relevance
2
as in to matter
to be of importance your presence at my graduation would mean a lot to me

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3
as in to intend
to have in mind as a purpose or goal I mean to win this race

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4
as in to indicate
to serve as a sign or symptom of these colder nights mean autumn has truly arrived

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mean

2 of 4

adjective (1)

ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
1
as in cruel
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it a mean, embittered old woman who wanted company for her misery

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dirty
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency a mean trick to play on a trusting person

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3
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank Alexander Hamilton seems to have had feelings of inferiority because of his mean origins

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4
as in stingy
giving or sharing as little as possible a mean child who hoarded all her toys

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5
as in inferior
of little or less value or merit it's no mean feat to memorize that long poem

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6
as in great
of the very best kind I'm a mean dancer, so you could do worse than go to the prom with me

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7
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect he worked hard to escape the mean neighborhood of his youth

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8
as in lame
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust that was no mean stunt to pull off, especially with so little advance preparation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mean

3 of 4

adjective (2)

ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size for the state of Florida, what is the mean number of sunny days per month?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mean

4 of 4

noun

ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
1
as in middle
a middle point between extremes that candidate's moderate views were seen as the mean that voters were looking for

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in doing
means plural an action planned or taken to achieve a desired result won the competition by fair and honest means

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3
as in ministry
means plural something used to achieve an end the ends don't justify the means

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4
as in worth
means plural the total of one's money and property a woman of considerable means

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mean distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of mean are average, median, and norm. While all these words mean "something that represents a middle point," mean may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes.

a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a mean of 60°

In what contexts can average take the place of mean?

Although the words average and mean have much in common, average is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures.

scored an average of 85 on tests

When could median be used to replace mean?

While the synonyms median and mean are close in meaning, median applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below.

average of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the median is 5 dollars

When is it sensible to use norm instead of mean?

The words norm and mean can be used in similar contexts, but norm means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade.

scores about the norm for fifth grade arithmetic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mean
Verb
That meant a busy weekend packing at her home in California before flying into Washington on Sunday evening, and meeting her new team first thing on Monday. — Rob Crilly, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 That means Trump has reduced the federal work force by more than 10 percent. — Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Adjective
What the movie does offer is an ending that is downright mean. — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 Even in the hotter scenario, the warmest summer months at Hell Creek peaked at around 33°, with mean annual temperatures near 21°. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2026
Noun
Many commenters criticize the low pay for teachers, suggesting that economic pressures drive educators to seek additional income through unconventional means. — Dan Simmons, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026 Older riders, who once sold important organs to buy in-line fours, are now too old and too scared to even care what 14,000rpm in top means on an in-line four. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mean
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean
  1. signify
  2. matter
  3. intend
  4. indicate
  5. cruel
  6. dirty
  7. low
  8. selfish
Verb
  • Whatever the detail signified, this was his final bow for Saint Laurent.
    — Luke Leitch, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The appointment signifies a new chapter for Zankov, formalizing a partnership that has already played a pivotal role in the development of his business over the past two years.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of signify
Verb
  • That population supports a huge job market, which matters for a generation just starting its careers.
    — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • However, in times like these, when elevated oil prices and higher bond yields are driving the bus, the latest economic releases also matter.
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of matter
Verb
  • Their different lengths are intended to offer broadcasters alternative scheduling options.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The emergency reserve has already fallen to its lowest level since the 1980s following releases intended to cushion oil price shocks from the Iran war and the Russia-Ukraine war.
    — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of intend
Verb
  • Dash clues are used to indicate that their entries are part of a larger gimmick.
    — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Red indicates an address is unsafe to enter, while yellow restricts use.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of indicate
Adjective
  • The offbeat, cruel cadence of the bit reminded me of classic Update Norm Macdonald.
    — Charu Sinha, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The misery of the situation could feel overwhelming, even cruel, but Cahyono’s observation of Sumiati’s struggles is humane and sympathetic.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • Walls around the three-sinks are dirty in the ware-washing area.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Postwar Hiroshima was a popular setting for these movie gangsters, who fought dirty, had no use for the old ceremonies, and wore flashy suits and aviator shades.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of dirty
Adjective
  • Jaguar also built a car with long, low proportions that are unique in its segment and required a new platform.
    — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Set the scene For a hotel with some of the priciest rooms in the city, Capella Bangkok feels decidedly low key.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Also on Weekend Update, James Austin Johnson portrayed a selfish Kevin O’Leary, the Shark Tank investor who is backing a massive data center campus in northwest Utah.
    — William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2026
  • That’s also how Violet is thinking about their portrayal of Maureen, whose eccentric performance art and selfish behavior often give the character a bad rap.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of selfish

Phrases Containing mean

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mealymouthed
mean
meander
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Cite this Entry

“Mean.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mean

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mean

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