Meaning & use
mean
To intend to express, convey, or refer to a particular thing or idea.
See it in a sentence
I'm not sure what he meant by that strange comment at dinner.
This symbol means 'danger' in most international safety guides.
A note on using this word
Mean has three common uses: as a verb for intended meaning, an adjective for unkind behavior, and a noun for a mathematical average.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Unkind, unfair, or intentionally hurtful in behavior toward others.
It was mean of him to laugh at her mistake in front of everyone.
3. noun
The average value obtained by adding a set of numbers and dividing by how many there are.
The teacher calculated the mean of all the students' test scores.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mean”, then compare your use with the examples above.