/miːn/
Translation
To show or stand for a certain idea, or to plan to do something.
Word origin
From Old English maenan, to have in mind or intend, sharing a root with the word mind.
- Origin
- Old English
- Root
- maenan
Grammar
Irregular verb. A full conjugation table for irregular verbs is coming soon. For now, use a reference like Wordreference or RAE.
Examples
these ?
"Mean" asks for the idea the words stand for.
.
"Means" is the form used with he, she, or it.
.
"Meant" is the past form and here it shows a plan.
Used in
Stories
(6)Grammar articles
(37)Adverb position in English: before the verb, after be, and the just, still and already traps
Advanced articles in English: the zero article, the with names and places, and go to school vs go to the school
Articles in English: a, an, the and the zero article
As vs like in English: swims like a fish, works as a waiter, and the truth about like I said
Both, either and neither in English: the two-of-something words, agreement traps, and Me neither
British vs American grammar: have got, gotten, the team are, and the other quiet differences
Cleft sentences in English: it was X who, what I need is, and how to move the emphasis
Countable and uncountable nouns in English: advice, information, news and the ones you simply have to learn
Discourse markers in English: well, anyway, actually, mind you and by the way
Dummy subjects in English: it's raining, there's a problem, and why the subject slot is never empty
Emphasis in English: I do like it, my own, the very, and how to push back
Future continuous and future perfect in English: will be doing vs will have done
Future tense in English: will, going to and more explained
Gerund and infinitive: which verb form comes next?
Gradable and ungradable adjectives: why very furious sounds wrong, and which intensifier goes where
English grammar test: 30 questions with answers (A2-B2)
Hedging and vague language in English: sort of, a bit, -ish, stuff and or so
Inversion and word order in English: the subject-verb-object spine and when it flips
Linking words in English: however, although, despite, whereas and therefore
Mixed conditionals in English: past causes with present results, and present causes with past results
Modal verbs in English: rules, examples and how to use them
Modals of deduction in English: must be, might be, could be and can't be
Past continuous tense: was and were plus -ing, and when to use it instead of the past simple
Past modals in English: should have, could have, must have and might have
Phrasal verbs in English: rules, examples and how to use them
Prepositions in English: place, time and movement explained
Present continuous tense: form, spelling and uses
Present perfect continuous: have been doing, and how it differs from the present perfect
Present simple tense: rules, examples and when to use it
Quantifiers in English: some, any, much, many and more
Question tags in English: the mirror rule, aren't I, and tags after let's and imperatives
Relative clauses in English: defining, non-defining and when to drop the pronoun
So, such, too and enough in English: words of degree and result
The subjunctive and the unreal past in English: I suggest he go, if I were you, and it's time we left
Time clauses in English: when, while, as soon as, until, before and after
Used to, would and be used to: talking about past habits and states in English
Word formation with prefixes: un-, in-, im-, dis-, re-, over-, under- and mis-
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 2.