meanings

noun

plural of meaning
1
as in senses
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action the unmistakable meaning of the skier's upraised arms as he finished his spectacular run

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in purposes
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish the people have a right to know what the president's meaning is in getting the nation involved in this war

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of meanings With his final book, however, Morris refuses to draw conclusions, letting the ambiguity of Surrealists’ meanings stand. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Barón hopes the physical language of the work leaves space for audiences to find meanings of their own. — Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026 People began using the song and made videos giving the term multiple meanings. — Moises Mendez Ii, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026 Instructors say in these classes, these new drivers will go over depth perception, the rules of the road, sign meanings, speed limits, what happens when you get pulled over, emergency situations, and how to be a good defensive driver. — Brian Sherrod, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 In Chinese culture, different meanings are associated with the number of stalks your lucky bamboo arrangement has (for instance, two represent love, while seven represent good health). — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 12 Aug. 2026 Read on to learn the meanings behind some of Queen Elizabeth’s great-grandchildren’s names. — Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Some don't seem tied to the obvious icon meanings to me, such as a paintbrush for adding photos to the active composer, or a party popper shooting confetti as the icon for opening a side chat. — Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026 The poem is rife with open meanings; however, its principal question is important for anyone who has felt slighted or discouraged from conducting their lives with reverie. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meanings
  1. senses
  2. purposes
  3. contents
  4. goals
  5. intentions
  6. ideas
  7. significances
  8. plans
Noun
  • The reign of Republicans during the Civil War and Reconstruction was a democratic breakthrough in two senses.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • However, human problems appear real according to the information gathered from the five corporeal senses.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of senses
Noun
  • By the end of Saturday night, the sanctuary had served two purposes at once.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The other scan—the spatial scan—employs a less powerful instrument called an Xgrid Portalcam, and serves several different purposes.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of purposes
Noun
  • Scientists use this technique, called candling — which historically entailed holding up a burning candle — to assess the contents of shark eggs for health, viability and genetic diversity.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This way auditors, regulators, and even customers can confirm a record is genuine without seeing its contents.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of contents
Noun
  • Boise’s City Council on Tuesday denied an appeal from the Cathedral of the Rockies seeking to pave a parking area adjacent to its North End church, dealing a blow to an application that pit arguments of religious freedom against municipal goals.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026
  • One of the goals behind the Lele pop-up for Uditi, who grew up in Caserta, outside of Naples, was to highlight the cuisine of his native Campania.
    — Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of goals
Noun
  • The leader of the United Kingdom’s Green Party has announced his intentions to run for the seat in Parliament vacated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2026
  • There were good intentions behind the concept, but a chunk of viewers left the program — and have not come back.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of intentions
Noun
  • Trying to fit Hinduism into Western categories of theisms diverges from the tradition’s diverse history of ideas while mixing internal understandings with European perspectives and categories.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Algorithms can be implemented in different programming languages, in much the same way that ideas can be expressed in English, Mandarin, or Arabic.
    — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of ideas
Noun
  • Factors In Kenya’s Sovereign Credit Rating Rise There are usually multiple significances to a credit rating action.
    — Ann Rutledge, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Definition of significances
Noun
  • Once the moon enters Gemini, conversations will pick up speed as plans become more flexible.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • That includes its previous plans to commit more than $10 billion to autonomous vehicles in the coming years.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of plans

Browse Nearby Words

meaninglessness
meanings
meanly
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Cite this Entry

“Meanings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meanings. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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