mean

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/miːn/
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It can indicate intention or significance, describe unkind or inferior qualities, or denote the average value in mathematics.
Practice using mean in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • She gave a mean look.
  • I mean to finish the report by Friday.
  • That restaurant serves mean food.
  • The mean landlord raised the rent.
  • He was mean to the new student.

Similar words

harsh
signify
cruel
mean value
convey
expected value
shoddy
imply
inferior
low‑grade

Meanings

Intend or signify

verb
communication
neutral
To convey or indicate a particular idea, intention, or significance.

Examples

  • I mean to finish the report by Friday.
  • She means that we should leave now.
  • They meant to call you yesterday.
  • What do you mean by that comment?
  • We mean to improve our service.

Similar words

signify
denote
imply
suggest
convey
indicate

Unkind or spiteful

adjective
social
neutral
Having a harsh or malicious disposition toward others.

Examples

  • He was mean to the new student.
  • Her mean remarks hurt his feelings.
  • The mean landlord raised the rent.
  • She gave a mean look.
  • That mean comment was unnecessary.

Similar words

cruel
harsh
unkind
spiteful
malevolent
vicious
nasty

Average, typical value

adjective
mathematics
neutral
Representing the arithmetic or geometric central tendency of a set of numbers.

Examples

  • The mean score of the class was 78.
  • A mean distribution can be misleading.
  • We need a mean value for the analysis.
  • The mean temperature this week is 15°C.
  • A mean of the data set is calculated.

Similar words

average

Average value

noun
mathematics
neutral
The statistical measure that summarizes a set of numbers by a central value.

Examples

  • The mean of the numbers is 10.
  • Calculate the mean before the median.
  • She recorded the mean for each trial.
  • A high mean indicates overall growth.
  • The mean can be affected by outliers.

Similar words

average
mean value
expected value

Low in quality or value

adjective
everyday
neutral
Describing something as cheap, inferior, or of little worth.

Examples

  • The product is mean and breaks easily.
  • They offered a mean price for the tickets.
  • His mean effort showed in the results.
  • That restaurant serves mean food.
  • She bought a mean sweater that fell apart.

Similar words

poor
cheap
inferior
substandard
shoddy
low‑grade
second‑rate

Etymology

FAQ

What does mean mean as a verb?

As a verb, mean expresses intention or signifies something.

How is mean used as an adjective to describe a person?

When used as an adjective, mean describes someone who is unkind or spiteful.

What does mean refer to in mathematics?

In mathematics, mean is the average value of a set of numbers.

Can mean be a noun?

Yes, mean can be a noun that denotes the statistical average.

Is mean ever used to describe low quality?

In everyday language, mean can describe something cheap or of inferior quality.

What is the past tense of mean?

The past tense of mean is meant.

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