meaning
/ˈmiː.nɪŋ/- 1.
The idea, message, or importance that a word, action, sign, or event expresses. It is what someone wants to say or what something shows.
- What is the meaning of this word?
- Her smile had a warm meaning.
- This road sign has no clear meaning.
- 2.
The value or purpose of something in life or work. It refers to why something matters to a person.
- He found new meaning in his job.
- Family gives her life meaning.
- The project had real meaning for them.
Important or serious enough to matter. This use is less common and often appears in the phrase 'meaningful'.
- They had a meaning conversation.
- She wanted a meaning relationship.
- He made a meaning choice.
Adinary Nuance
Meaning is the general word for what something says or suggests. Use sense for understanding a word or situation, and importance when you mean value or weight. Use purpose when you mean the reason something exists or is done. In many contexts, meaning is broader than these near-neighbors.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ý nghĩa
- Spanish
- significado
- Chinese
- 意义
- Japanese
- 意味
- Korean
- 의미
Etymology
Meaning comes from Old English 'mænan', meaning 'to intend' or 'to signify'. The noun use developed in Middle English, when English speakers began using it for sense and importance.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between meaning and definition?
- A definition explains a word. Meaning is wider, and it can also describe ideas, signs, and life events.
- Can I say 'the meaning of life'?
- Yes. It is a very common phrase for the purpose or value of life.
- Is meaning the same as significance?
- Not exactly. Significance often stresses importance more than sense or message.
- Is 'meaning' used in IELTS writing?
- Yes, especially in academic topics about language, values, culture, and purpose.