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mean

v. · adj. · n.
US //ˈmin// UK //mˈiːn// mean
Irregular verb past meant past participle meant
  1. 1 to signify or explain (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to have a specific meaning or to represent an idea.

    to signify or represent a particular concept, word, or idea. Transitive — requires a direct object or a 'that' clause.

    Example

    I am sorry, but I do not know what this word means.

    Example

    The red light on the dashboard is designed to mean that the engine is overheating and requires immediate attention.
    Pitfall
    What means this word?
    What does this word mean?

    In questions, 'mean' requires the auxiliary verb 'do/does'.

  2. 2 to intend (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to have something as a purpose or plan.

    to intend to convey or do something; often used to clarify intentions after a misunderstanding.

    Example

    I did not mean to hurt your feelings when I made that joke.

    Example

    The legislation was never meant to penalize small businesses, though its initial implementation caused significant confusion.
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  1. 3 to be important (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to have value or importance to someone.

    to be of a specified level of importance or significance to a person.

    Example

    Your friendship means a lot to me.

    Example

    Winning the championship meant everything to the players after years of rigorous training and repeated failures.
  2. 4 unkind (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    unkind or cruel to other people.

    behaving in an unkind, spiteful, or malicious manner.

    Example

    Don't be mean to your little brother; give him his toy back.

    Example

    The supervisor had a reputation for being mean to new recruits, often criticizing their work in front of the entire team.
  3. 5 stingy (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate British English

    not wanting to spend money or give things to others.

    unwilling to give or spend; ungenerous. Primarily used in British English in this sense.

    Example

    He is very wealthy, but he is too mean to buy his friends a drink.

    Example

    Despite his vast inheritance, he remained notoriously mean, refusing to donate even a small portion to the local charity.
  4. 6 skillful (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    very good at doing something.

    highly skillful or effective; often used in the phrase 'plays a mean...'.

    Example

    My grandmother makes a mean apple pie.

    Example

    He might look quiet, but he plays a mean game of chess and rarely loses to anyone in the club.
  5. 7 average (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Math

    the middle value of a set of numbers.

    the mathematical average found by adding several quantities together and dividing the sum by the number of quantities.

    Example

    To find the mean, add the test scores and divide by the number of students.

    Example

    The statistical analysis focused on the arithmetic mean of the results to minimize the impact of a few extreme outliers.
  6. 8 middle point (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Formal

    a middle point between two extremes.

    a middle state or condition between two extremes; often used in the context of 'the golden mean'.

    Example

    We need to find a happy mean between working too hard and being lazy.

    Example

    Aristotle argued that virtue lies in the mean, avoiding the vices of both deficiency and excess in one's character.
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