# meant to

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/meant-to
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

supposed to, obliged to, ought to

## Examples

- I meant to call you yesterday, but I forgot.
- The train was meant to arrive at noon, but it is running late because of the storm.
- Although the project was meant to be completed by the end of the quarter, unforeseen technical difficulties forced the team to request an extension.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.