Meaning & use
meaningfully
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Meanings
adverb
In a way that has real importance, purpose, or value, not just for show.
Grammar: Used to modify a verb, often before the verb or after it.
Patterns
- meaningfully + verb
- verb + meaningfully
She nodded meaningfully to show she understood the plan.
The two countries agreed to talk meaningfully about reducing pollution.
He looked at me meaningfully, as if he wanted to say something private.
adverb
In a way that clearly shows a particular meaning or intention.
Grammar: Often used with verbs like 'look', 'smile', or 'pause' to describe a deliberate signal.
Patterns
- look meaningfully at someone
- smile meaningfully
She smiled meaningfully when I mentioned the surprise party.
He paused meaningfully before answering the difficult question.
The teacher raised her eyebrows meaningfully at the noisy students.
Common combinations
- contribute meaningfully
- Everyone was encouraged to contribute meaningfully to the discussion.
- engage meaningfully
- It's hard to engage meaningfully with a topic you don't care about.
- participate meaningfully
- Students who participate meaningfully in class often learn more.
- respond meaningfully
- The company promised to respond meaningfully to customer complaints.
- meaningfully different
- The new version is meaningfully different from the old one.
Synonyms and how they differ
- significantly
- Focuses on importance or size of effect; 'meaningfully' often stresses genuine purpose or value.
- purposefully
- Emphasizes having a clear aim; 'meaningfully' can also suggest deep significance.
- expressively
- Used for showing feeling or meaning through actions; 'meaningfully' is broader.
Opposites
Word family
- meaningful adjective
- Having importance or purpose.
- meaning noun
- The idea or message that something expresses.
- mean verb
- To have a particular meaning or intention.
Commonly confused: meaningfully or meaningful?
meaningfully vs meaningful
Adjective: 'a meaningful discussion'. Adverb: 'discuss meaningfully'.
Practice
Choose the correct word: 'She looked at him ______ to warn him not to speak.'
Choose one answer.
'Meaningfully' is the adverb needed to modify the verb 'looked'. 'Meaningful' is an adjective and would not fit before 'to warn'. 'Meaning' is a noun or verb, and 'meaningless' is an adjective meaning without meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “meaningfully”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.