English Reference
Idiom idiom

meant to


supposed to, obliged to, ought to

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I meant to call you yesterday, but I forgot.

CONTEXTUAL

The train was meant to arrive at noon, but it is running late because of the storm.

COMPLEX

Although the project was meant to be completed by the end of the quarter, unforeseen technical difficulties forced the team to request an extension.


Related idioms5entries
  1. 01

    and I don't mean maybe

    Indicating that one is serious and not joking about a matter.

  2. 02

    golden mean

    A position of balance between excess and deficiency.

  3. 03

    mean business

    To be serious, especially where achieving a specific end against opposition is concerned.

  4. 04

    mean streak

    A defect in character characterized by persistent nastiness, viciousness, or malevolence.

  5. 05

    mean the world to

    To be loved or cared about a great deal by.

Last updated August 10, 2026