verb
mean
meen
verb
1
To intend or have in mind as a purpose.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you."
"She means to finish the project by Friday."
2
To convey a particular sense or significance; to signify.
"What does this symbol mean?"
"A red light means stop."
adj
1
Unkind, unpleasant, or deliberately hurtful in behavior.
"It was mean of him to laugh at her mistake."
"The kids at school were mean to the new student."
2
Stingy or ungenerous with money or resources.
"He's too mean to leave a decent tip."
noun
1
A method or resource used to achieve a result (usually used in the plural, "means").
"Email is a fast means of communication."
2
In mathematics and statistics, the average value of a set of numbers.
"The mean of 2, 4, and 6 is 4."
How to Use Mean
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan describe intending something, what a word signifies, being unkind or stingy, or the mathematical average of a set of numbers.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the "unkind" sense with "mean" as in average — context makes it clear, but learners sometimes mix up "the mean score" (average) with "a mean score" (an unkind one).
Common pairings
mean to someone
mean well
mean average
by no means
Word Forms
meaner comparative, meant past tense, means plural, means singular, meanest superlative
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I didn't _____ to interrupt you.
Etymology
From Old English mǣnan ("to intend, complain"), related to the word "moan".