What does meaning mean?

Definitions for meaning
ˈmi nɪŋmean·ing

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word meaning.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. meaning, significance, signification, importnoun

    the message that is intended or expressed or signified

    "what is the meaning of this sentence"; "the significance of a red traffic light"; "the signification of Chinese characters"; "the import of his announcement was ambiguous"

  2. meaning, substanceadjective

    the idea that is intended

    "What is the meaning of this proverb?"

  3. meaning(a), pregnant, significantadjective

    rich in significance or implication

    "a meaning look"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Meaningnoun

    Etymology: from mean.

    I am no honest man, if there be any good meaning toward you. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

    Some whose meaning hath at first been fair,
    Grow knaves by use, and rebels by despair. Wentworth Dillon.

    The meaning, not the name, I call: for thou,
    Not of the Muses nine. John Milton, Par. Lost, b. vii.

    These lost the sense their learning to display,
    And those explain’d the meaning quite away. Alexander Pope.

    No word more frequently in the mouths of men than conscience; and the meaning of it is, in some measure, understood: however, it is a word extremely abused by many, who apply other meanings to it which God Almighty never intended. Jonathan Swift, Miscel.

ChatGPT

  1. meaning

    Meaning is the significance, purpose, or sense conveyed by something, whether it be a word, symbol, action, concept, or experience. It involves the interpretation and understanding of the message, idea, or intention behind a specific entity, often shaped by personal, cultural, or contextual factors. Meaning gives substance and value to our existence, allowing for communication, decision-making, and the pursuit of fulfilling lives.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Meaning

    of Mean

  2. Meaningnoun

    that which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim; object; as, a mischievous meaning was apparent

  3. Meaningnoun

    that which is signified, whether by act lanquage; signification; sence; import; as, the meaning of a hint

  4. Meaningnoun

    sense; power of thinking

Wikidata

  1. Meaning

    In linguistics, meaning is what the source or sender expresses, communicates, or conveys in their message to the observer or receiver, and what the receiver infers from the current context.

Editors Contribution

  1. meaningnoun

    HonD or Handoo Means Sheep


    Submitted by limit_l on February 23, 2024  


  2. meaning

    Intended or known by language.

    The picture had meaning and depth, the words were very accurate and descriptive.


    Submitted by MaryC on January 31, 2020  


  3. meaning

    To intend to express or communicate.

    The picture had real meaning as she related to the power of the beautiful and loving words.


    Submitted by MaryC on January 31, 2020  

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'meaning' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1536

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'meaning' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4138

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'meaning' in Nouns Frequency: #592

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce meaning?

How to say meaning in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of meaning in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of meaning in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of meaning in a Sentence

  1. Johnita Due:

    We knew it was important to our country and important to our audiences to shed light on the meaning and significance of Juneteenth, and not only as an historic event but really as a way to engage and educate people about what still needs to happen for all of us to achieve freedom and justice.

  2. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

    If you will protest courageously, and yet with dignity and Christian love, when the history books are written in future generations, the historians will have to pause and say, There lived a great people-a black people-who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.

  3. Alan Watts:

    The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.

  4. Adam Green:

    Trust, meaning there's a general belief that the Biden White House genuinely wants to get there on things like a $ 15 minimum wage, massive investment in taking on climate change and canceling student debt, but, you know, it's up to organizing to ensure that the incentives are aligned for them to go bigger and faster.

  5. RAS CARDO REGGAE:

    there is no living creature, with no future and no past. For to be alive encompasses both dimensions. God is god because he has no beginning nor no end. This is the true meaning to be everlasting. He alone is everlasting.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

meaning#1#2764#10000

Translations for meaning

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"meaning." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 25 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/meaning>.

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