Skip to main content
meaning

meaning

6.1
Full of a hidden message often shown by a look or pause
  • adjective
  • /ˈmiːnɪŋ/
translation icon : significativo
  • During the ceremony, the silence was meaning and conveyed deep respect.

Examples

  • The teacher gave a meaning nod to show her approval.

  • Her smile was meaning and made everyone feel welcomed.

  • So I understand like the the well meaning approach to to such a ridiculous lie.

  • So a well meaning self help guru would teach you just affirm I am wealthy.

Synonyms

significant
vsmeaning
69 4.9

Having a hidden meaning often shown by a look or pause

is stronger, implying a clear hidden idea rather than just hinting
pregnant
vsmeaning
  • Literature
33 6.8

Full of meaning that shows more than is said

is more focused, implying a single clear hidden idea rather than broad hinting

Compounds

deeper meaning
  • Literature
8 6.3

A hidden important idea behind a story, picture, or action

lexical meaning
  • Specialized
7.0

A thing a word points to in the real world, like an animal or object, not its grammar use

grammatical meaning
  • Specialized
6.3

A part of a word that shows its grammar role, like tense or number

The idea a word gives about someone, something, or an action

How Significant

telling
4.4
revealing
38 4.0
meaning
6.1
notable
112 3.7
neutral
218 3.6

Surface Forms

meaning positive

Morphology

meaning = mean (transparent) = mean + ing

This adjectival use is the present-participial adjectival form of 'mean' (i.e., 'conveying meaning'), which learners can derive from the verb.

Etymology

As an adjective, meaning comes from the same verb mean, which means 'to intend' or 'to show'. So a meaning glance or pause is one that 'shows' a hidden message or strong feeling.