English Reference

Word

meaningfully

Phoneticsmean·ing·ful·ly

US/ˈminɪŋfəɫi/

UK/mˈiːnɪŋfəli/

Definition

adv. in a way that is important or has a real effect. You use this to describe an action or statement that actually matters.

adv. in a manner that is significant, substantial, or effective. Often used to describe actions or communication that produce a tangible result or have a deep impact.

Examples

“The two groups met to talk meaningfully about the future.”

“The new law was supposed to help the poor, but it did not change their lives meaningfully.”

“While the speech was technically correct, it lacked the emotional depth required to meaningfully address the concerns of the grieving families.”

Examples

simple

“The two groups met to talk meaningfully about the future.”

contextual

“The new law was supposed to help the poor, but it did not change their lives meaningfully.”

complex

“While the speech was technically correct, it lacked the emotional depth required to meaningfully address the concerns of the grieving families.”

Real-World Examples

“Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh said while inflation readings looked better than expected over the summer, they did not show that the current picture had "meaningfully improved".”
BBC News · 28 Aug 2026
“What we need are whole-of-university programs that meaningfully address what drives sexual violence and, therefore, what ultimately prevents it.”
Phys.org · 15 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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