Collocations for "mean"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "mean" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
mean
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.v
- what does this [word, expression] mean?
- a [word, expression] (that) means
- what do you mean (by that)?
- what I meant was
- take it to mean (that)
- means you [can, should, will, need]
- means more than [it seems, you know]
- means something else entirely
- [that name, it] means nothing to me
- doesn't necessarily mean that
- means a lot to me
- would mean [a great deal, so much]
- would mean (all) the difference
- [could, might, probably] means that
- means the [end, beginning] of
- he means business
- no means no
- meant to [say, do, go, make]
- meant to [thank, introduce] you
- meant to [call you back, return your call, contact you]
- didn't mean to [offend, break, say]
- I never meant to [hurt, upset] you
- have been meaning to [go, get, ask, say]
- is always so mean
- is mean and [nasty, grumpy]
- don't be (so) mean to [me, your sister]
- stop being mean
- he's (really) mean with his [money, praise, thoughts]
- that's (really) mean (of you)
- a mean [act, remark, comment]
- UK: (rather) mean portion sizes
- UK: is no mean feat
- the mean [average, derivation, number]
- the mean [income, wage, salary]
- that is one mean [player, smartphone, stereo]!
- she plays a mean game (of tennis)
- the [geometric, arithmetic, average] mean
- [calculate, work out] the mean
- take the mean of [10] [values, amounts, samples, distances]
- a mean between [saving and spending]
- what does this [word, expression] mean?
- the [geometric, arithmetic, average] mean
- is always so mean
- a [word, expression] (that) means
- [calculate, work out] the mean
- is mean and [nasty, grumpy]
- what do you mean (by that)?
- take the mean of [10] [values, amounts, samples, distances]
- is a mean- [spirited, tempered] person
- what I meant was
- a mean between [saving and spending]
- don't be (so) mean to [me, your sister]
- take it to mean (that)
- stop being mean
- means you [can, should, will, need]
- he's (really) mean with his [money, praise, thoughts]
- means more than [it seems, you know]
- that's (really) mean (of you)
- means something else entirely
- a mean [act, remark, comment]
- [that name, it] means nothing to me
- UK: (rather) mean portion sizes
- doesn't necessarily mean that
- UK: is no mean feat
- means a lot to me
- US: is no small feat
- would mean [a great deal, so much]
- the mean [average, derivation, number]
- would mean (all) the difference
- the mean [income, wage, salary]
- [could, might, probably] means that
- that is one mean [player, smartphone, stereo]!
- means the [end, beginning] of
- she plays a mean game (of tennis)
- he means business
- no means no
- meant to [say, do, go, make]
- meant to [thank, introduce] you
- meant to [call you back, return your call, contact you]
- didn't mean to [offend, break, say]
- I never meant to [hurt, upset] you
- have been meaning to [go, get, ask, say]
'mean' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Earth
- I
- abbreviation
- abrupt
- accuse
- alarm
- almost
- anguish
- aunt
- badger
- be
- call
- cause
- coin
- compromise
- confusion
- construe
- cranky
- delete
- deviation
- devil
- distress
- distribution
- diversion
- dreadful
- dream
- dude
- exactly
- face
- gist
- guitar
- hardship
- harm
- havoc
- he
- idea
- ill
- imply
- impolite
- injure
- inquisitive
- insensitive
- instant
- insult
- interrupt
- it
- jack
- joke
- lean
- liable