Definition

Not nice or kind; someone who is cruel or unkind. It can also mean something that is of poor quality or appearance.

Example

He was mean to his classmates, often making fun of them.

Comparatives & Superlatives

Conversation

Did you see how mean the weather has been lately?

Yeah, it really caught me off guard; I wasn't prepared for that storm.

I know, right? It felt like the mean wind was trying to knock me down.

Definitely! I hope it gets better soon.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To have a particular intention or purpose; to express a certain idea or feeling.

Example

I think they mean to help us with the project.

Tense Forms

Conversation

I think they really mean to help us, even if they don’t say it directly.

Yeah, sometimes people just struggle to express their intentions.

Exactly! It's like they mean well but don't know how to show it.

Definition

A number that represents the average value of a group of numbers, or a way to achieve something.

Example

To find the mean of the test scores, add all the scores together and divide by the number of tests.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about how to calculate the mean of a group of numbers?

Yeah, it's pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.

I always mix it up with the median and mode, though.

Definition

To signify or represent something; to intend or have a purpose for something.

Example

The word 'love' means a strong feeling of affection.

Tense Forms

Conversation

What do you think this award means for our team?

I think it really means we've come a long way together.

Yeah, I hope it means more opportunities for us in the future.

Root Explanation

Mean → The word originates from Old English 'mēne', meaning common or shared. It reflects the idea of something that is average or in the middle, as in a common measure or standard.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'common' or 'shared' — that's why 'mean' refers to an average or middle value.

Visually Confused Words